Manchac Swamp marks the book-length debut of a little-known but superbly talented nature photographer as she reveals an equally undiscovered exotic locale in south Louisiana. Veiled behind dense drapes of Spanish moss and walls of cypresses, and accessible only by water, Manchac Swamp is a wilderness jewel known mainly to those who for generations have dwelled in and around it, arduously earning their sustenance from its waters and wildlife. Drawn to the swamp's mystery and eventually captivated by its peace, photographer Julia Sims has over the past fifteen years determinedly, patiently penetrated its secrets. What she has hunted from boat and blind, and skillfully trapped on film, are the many moods, flora, and fauna of this hidden world. Now, in this stunning album of her photographs, a glimpse of that quintessential Louisiana place in its seasonal variations is offered to all. In an evocative introduction to the book, John Kemp draws upon his interviews with several of the swamp's residents to describe how they make their living there, trapping and hunting every variety of animal - turtle, muskrat, nutria, lizard, snake, frog, alligator, rabbit, squirrel, duck, mink, otter, crawfish. But the locals, who have befriended Sims and lead her to choice spots for photographing, say that Manchac is not the same as it once was. Land subsidence and the influx of salt water are among several factors that are causing what some predict will be the swamp's inevitable death. As deteriorating environmental conditions reduce or eliminate wildlife, there is, in turn, a diminished harvest for trappers, hunters, and fishermen - and a diminished heritage for all of us.
