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patkeith

20180509-10

On a recent jungle trip, we found this Anhinga on a perch overlooking a small river.

On a recent jungle trip, we found this Anhinga on a perch overlooking a small river.
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NIKON D810

settings

Aperture f/9 ISO 1250 Shutter 1/800 Focal Length 5000/10

location

Tortuguero, Region Autonoma Atlantico Sur, NI

upload_date

Apr, 2020

Views

Likes

+12

Awards

Curator's Selection

Top Shot Award 21

Spring 21 Award

Judge Favorite

Peer Award

Outstanding Creativity

Superb Composition

Top Choice

Absolute Masterpiece

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken riverside in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Having never been to Costa Rica, I was really excited to photograph the flora and fauna of the area. Friends had told me to take lots of "film" (they mean cards) so I packed in 27 SD cards and filled them all up.

Time

Our guides had told us to get an early start since there will be great opportunities all day long. I was up at 6 am local time and out the door by 6:30 and within minutes ran in to this great Anhinga specimen. I knew that the morning would be a great place to take photos along the river because of the positioning of the sun..

Lighting

When I first approached the Anhinga, I recognized that by moving a little to the south of his position, the light would stream through the thin folds of skin and "light him up". Of the five shots that I took, this was my favorite as it emphasize the long neck and brilliantly illuminated the pouch of the neck. It also caused the gnats that were swarming around the Anhinga to sparkle.

Equipment

This photograph was taken with a Nikon D810 with a Nikon 200-500 mm f/5.6 lens. The only filter I ever use other than GND or ND filters is a UV filter. Flash and tripod were not used as I was able to set exposure at 1/800 sec at f/9.0, a sweet spot for this lens.

Inspiration

I had come to the jungle in Costa Rica for the sole purpose of photographing the wildlife and landscape. I was actually surprised by the amount of subject I found within minutes of leaving my bungalow. While other interesting birds and reptiles rattled around at ground level, the Anhinga was drying itself by posing on a high sunlit perch. I still see the "bright spot" in the scene and was drawn to photograph this bird because it stood out so well amongst all the other shaded and drab subjects.

Editing

When I take photographs, I play on instinct and what draws me to it. However, when I sit down and begin to process photos, I then ask, "why did I take the photo?"; "what was special" ?; "can I process to favor that aspect of the photo and tell a story?". Again, the lighting of the Anhinga drew me to it as it dried wings in the new-day sun. A slight cropping to pull the subject to a more central position, along with slight increase in vibrance and saturation really made a difference. To even out the photo, I lightened shadows a minor amount to provide better depth for the body of the bird. The bokeh was already nice at f/9 as I was close to the bird and the other shoreline of the river was far away.

In my camera bag

If I "grab and go", I always take my D500 with the 200-500 mm f/5.6 lens, a small air bulb to blow dust off the lens, and a Black Rapid style sling to carry it. That is because I frequently leave the house and go to nearby nature areas for bird and animal photography. But if I take a serious road trip such as to Arches National Park, I pack a variety of things because I plan to shoot multiple ways. For Wildlife photos, I pack the D500 and 200-500 f5.6 as well as a 70-300 mm f4.5-5.6. They are both fast lenses for day to early evening shooting and I plan for those shoots specifically. For example, I might scout out areas where mountain sheep have been spotted or coyotes have been seen. Planning ahead allows me to prepare. For the landscape photography, I pack a D810 with a 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens with an assortment of ND and GND filters. (GND 2 stop, 3 stop, 4stop and ND 3 stop and 6 stop "little" stopper). If I am going to the beach I may be selective of the filters that I take given the position of the sun etc. I also pack my Tamron Sp 15-30 f/2.8 for landscape and night photography. If I am going to hike any distance, I take a lighter-weight field tripod - otherwise, it is my bigger tripod. And if the location is at the beach, I take "snow-shoes" for the tripod. Red light flashlights, cleaning equipment and terry cloths to drape over cameras for protection round out the gear.

Feedback

Costa Rica is a special place, especially for photographers and naturalists. The country thrives on eco-tourism and I highly recommend a guide if this is your first trip in . As you might tell from my "equipment" list, I really try to plan for catching opportunities. In this example, I knew where the sun would be in the morning and I also knew there would be opportunity close by. With that in mind, I was able to seize the moment as I walked out of the cabana and took stock of the environment and subect. My camera was already set to f/8 and ISO 1000 as I also researched that the mornings may not be that bright, especially in a jungle setting. It didn't take long to adjust to f/9 to guarantee I caught the entire subject and move up to ISO 1250 so that shutter speed favored hand-holding of the shot. Regardless of where you plan on going, doing a little research will allow you to get almost fully setup so that when an opportunity presents itself, you are not in a panic and can focus on the art of it all and not the technology.

See more amazing photos, follow patkeith

patkeith

patkeith

20180509-10

On a recent jungle trip, we found this Anhinga on a perch overlooking a small river.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow patkeith

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