In my last edition I posted about the Prothonotary Warbler’s that we photographed at Joyce Wildlife Management Area, which is located about halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Today I want to share some beautiful landscape shots of what they call the “Swamp Walk” part of the Wildlife Management Area.
The first photo above is the stunning view we saw when we first walked in on the boardwalk. Very quickly we were surrounded by the marshy green beauty of yet another Louisiana swamp. It’s really nothing like you imagine, if you’ve never been to a Louisiana swamp. I think most people envision a place that stinks of rotting organic materials, or a fishy smelling place, a place plagued with insects, spiders, and all sorts of reptiles.
Though the swamp does have all sorts of reptiles, spiders (eeww!), and some rotting material…it is not a culmination of all that, but a diverse place of that and much more. Most of all, there is life, in abundance. There is beauty. There is tranquility. There is danger. There is a newness all around. An ever striving, far reaching, and never ending circle of life.
Though we have only been in Louisiana for about 2 months, the swamp land has become one of my favorite places. Even at this small pull off and board walk, immediately upon entering we were surrounded by birds, Anole lizards, snakes, fish, and green thriving vegetation. And upon stopping for just a moment, and closing my eyes, taking a few deep breaths, relaxing and just letting my sense of hearing and smell take over…I quickly realize that whatever the journey to get here, it was well worth it at that moment in time.
From my camera to yours, “Enjoy Our Wonderful World!”
RM Goldsmith Photography 