Once a year, the bald cypress trees of the Texan wetlands shed their needles and turn a vibrant orange. Filmed entirely using the DJI Inspire 3, ‘Spirit of the Golden Wetlands’ captures this brief seasonal transformation from the air and highlights the unique atmosphere, fall colors, and wildlife that call the swamp at Caddo Lake home.

From the mysterious low fog drifting across the water to the warm light filtering through the Spanish moss that hangs from the trees, Caddo Lake is one of the most interesting places I’ve been able to film nature and it has grown to have a very special place in my heart. I hope that this short film provides just a glimpse of how beautiful wetlands are and how even forests such as these need to be protected.

Not that long ago, ancient bald cypress forests stretched across the southeastern United States, with trees that lived for over a thousand years. Towering and massive, these old-growth giants were often left unprotected and were heavily logged during the rise of the timber industry. Today, only small pockets of cypress swamps remain, and even fewer contain the untouched ancient trees that once defined them.

Wetlands like these are critical to biodiversity and water health, and the bald cypress stands at the heart of it all. I hope this short film offers a glimpse not just of their beauty but also of what we still stand to protect and what has already been lost.