C.C. Lockwood goes ‘Louisiana Wild’; book due out in September

For nearly 30 years, The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana has served as a steward of the state’s ecological riches, protecting and maintaining more than 285,000 acres of the state’s land, according to an LSU news release. Now, for the first time, readers can observe the vast array of flora and fauna found in these complex habitats in “Louisiana Wild,” filled with the photography by C.C. Lockwood. “Louisiana Wild” will be published by Louisiana State University Press in September.
The scenic images that Louisiana brings to mind — moss-draped cypress, lush marshlands, alligators gliding through bayous, herons coasting across an open sky — all spring from one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the continent. This varied and inviting landscape gives rise to one of the state’s many monikers, “Sportsman’s Paradise,” which rings true whether someone is boating on Lake Martin or bird-watching among the ancient live oaks of Lafitte Woods.
After trekking and canoeing through more than 60 properties managed by The Nature Conservancy, Lockwood presents a vivid photo narrative that journeys from the little-known Copenhagen Hills, a prairie habitat with the largest variety of woody plants in Louisiana; to the swampland lake of Cypress Island, with its massive rookery of roseate spoonbills and great egrets; to over a dozen other sites that showcase Louisiana’s distinct environs.
With 220 color images, “Louisiana Wild” pays homage to the immeasurable impact of The Nature Conservancy’s efforts.
Lockwood, a recipient of the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award for Outstanding Conservation Photography and honored as a Louisiana Legend by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, has photographed the natural wonders of his home state and beyond for more than four decades. His books include “Marsh Mission: Capturing the Vanishing Wetlands;” “C.C. Lockwood’s Atchafalaya;” “Around the Bend: A Mississippi River Adventure;” “Beneath the Rim: A Photographic Journey through the Grand Canyon;” “Still Waters: Images, 1971–1999;” and “The Yucatán Peninsula.”
The 168-page book will sell for $48.