Daisy fields by Suellen Saidee Cook

Daisy Fields is inspired by the mysteries, legends and stories that belong to the murky swamps of Louisiana and the famous bayous where the cypress trees drip with Spanish moss, and the surroundings whisper dark tales of spooky creatures, ghosts and voodoo spells from Cajun and Creole legends.  

Some say that anyone entering the swamp should beware of a more supernatural threat—the curse of the voodoo priestess Julia Brown who lived at the edge of the swamp in the early 1800’s. She was known for her charms and her curses, as well as for singing eerie songs with her guitar on her front porch. Brown likely served as the local healer and midwife, using whatever knowledge and materials she could find to care for local residents.

Legend also refers to the Fifolet or Cajun Fairy.  Various versions of the Fifolet occur in a number of countries around the world, including Australia.  But first let me explain what a Fifolet is.  Have you ever seen something out of the corner of your eye, a flash of light that you swore was there? If so, you may have encountered a Fifolet. A Fifolet is a glowing orb sometimes seen in the swamps.

If you follow the Fifolet, you will be led through mysterious waterways and unseen parts of the swamp likely to only find yourself quite lost. One legend suggests that a famed pirate would bury his ill-gotten treasures in the murky swamps of Louisiana, however legend has it that this pirate also buried a body with his treasure with the outcome that this poor soul was bound to the area.  Stories claim that the spirit turns into the devilish floating phosphorescent ball of light known as a Fifolet or at other times can take on the form of a loved one to lure you further and deeper into the murky mysterious swamps.  Either way It is a spooky sight in dark of the swamps, marshlands and bayous of Louisiana. Those who claimed to have witnessed a Fifolet say it emits a blue glow. Regardless, its mischievous purpose is to confuse those who follow.

Interestingly Australia has a similar legend of the Min Min Lights, a light phenomenon often reported in outback Australia. Stories about the lights can be found in Aboriginal myths predating European settlement. Accounts of the Min Min lights appearing vary, though they are most commonly described as being fuzzy, disc-shaped white lights that appear to hover just above the horizon and follow or approach people and then suddenly disappear only to reappear later on.

In English folklore a similar phenomenon is known as a Will-o’-the-Wisp which is a spooky ghostly light seen by travellers at night especially over bogs, moors, swamps and marshes.  In European folklore a mysterious light called a Jack-o’-Lantern is said to mislead travellers by resembling a flickering lamp. Other notable Will-o'-the-Wisp type phenomenon include the St. Louis Light in Saskatchewan, The Spooklight in Southwestern Missouri, the Marfa lights of Texas, the Naga fireballs on the Mekong in Thailand, the Paulding Light in Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Hessdalen light in Norway.

In terms of other Cajun folklore, the Rougarou may be the most popular. This creepy creature is said to live in the swamps and sugar cane fields of southern Louisiana, waiting for its next victim. During the day, the creature is in human form, so it could be anyone... but at night, they take the form of the Rougarou (a wolf like creature) on the prowl.

Stories about the Altamaha-ha, date back to at least the 1800s, mostly stemming from Georgia and the Lower Muskogee Creek Tribe. According to legend, the body of the Altamaha-ha resembles a sturgeon with a head like an alligator, with sharp teeth and large front flippers. Witnesses claimed it measured from 20 to 30 feet long, leading them to first assume the creature was a giant snake. People have been reporting Altamaha-ha sightings ever since. Some creature enthusiasts believe Altamaha-ha may have travelled to Louisiana at some point and might be occupying the bayous. 

It doesn’t take much to believe the bayous and swamps of Louisiana are home to some interesting stories and strange goings on; fascinating, intriguing and the supernatural, even voodoo. 

The twists and turns of the waterways and the darkness created by the cypress trees provide a mysterious backdrop for the stories of ancient magic, myths, legends and folktales. 

Daisy Fields comprises 100 layers and 23 individual photographs.  The layered file is 18.4 GB.  The landscape image was photographed in Louisiana, USA.  The shack in Maine, USA, the jetty, dinghy, lamp post and daisies in Tasmania.