For Lafayette-based photographer Ben Pierce, inspiration often starts with an early morning on still water. The executive director of Swamp Base, Pierce has built his reputation photographing Louisiana’s iconic wetlands capturing mist rising off glassy bayous, light filtering through moss-draped cypress, and the quiet power of a place that defines Acadiana’s landscape and identity.
“What excites me most about my art is the hunt,” Pierce says. “When I’m out on the water looking for compositions, I’m chasing that adrenaline rush, that moment when I find something new that inspires me.” He doesn’t shoot with an audience in mind, but he admits that hearing from viewers who connect deeply with his work is one of the most rewarding parts. “When someone tells me a photo reminded them of fishing with their granddad or spending time at the family camp, that’s special. It means the image stirred something real.”
Pierce describes his photography style as “swamp landscapes,” a genre that has brought him local and national attention. “I love being recognized as a swamp photographer,” he says. “There’s a small community of people who love getting out in this environment, and to represent Acadiana and the state of Louisiana through our most iconic landscape is something I take to heart.”
His goal, he says, is always to tell the story of Louisiana’s wetlands not just as a scenic backdrop but as a living, breathing ecosystem that’s vital to local culture and the country as a whole. That same mission drives his work with Swamp Base, where he introduces young people from across the nation to the magic and importance of the swamp. “When they leave, I want them to see it for what it truly is; an ecosystem worth protecting.”
Photography, for Pierce, is both art and therapy. “Getting out on the water with my kayak and camera is my way to disconnect,” he explains. “I’m not thinking about anything else, just what I see through my lens. It’s how I reset.” Even when he feels pressure to capture the perfect shot, the challenge keeps him motivated and learning.
Lately, Pierce has been experimenting with nighttime photography, using artificial light to illuminate scenes in complete darkness. “It’s like creating something out of nothing,” he says. “The canvas is black, and you get to paint with light.” He’s also interested in collaborating with other local artists and painters to see how his images might inspire new creative work across mediums.
When asked what makes a photograph great, Pierce doesn’t hesitate: “The best kind of photography is the kind that inspires action. Something that makes people want to care, to protect, or to see the world differently.”
His influences include Louisiana legends C.C. Lockwood and Greg Girard, photographers who helped introduce the Atchafalaya Basin to the world. “They really inspired a whole generation of us to get out there and tell our own version of the swamp’s story,” Pierce says.
That story, he believes, is still being written. Every trip on the water, from the quiet calls of birds at dawn to the glint of an alligator’s eye at dusk, adds another layer to the narrative. “People think of swamps as dark or dangerous,” Pierce says, “but when they finally see them up close, they realize how beautiful and alive they are. This place changes people.”
