HaliSowle

At his leisure

Spider monkey taking a break in a eucalyptus tree.

Spider monkey taking a break in a eucalyptus tree.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark III

settings

Aperture f/4.0 ISO 2000 Shutter 1/800

upload_date

Oct, 2014

Views

524

Likes

+72

Awards

Contest Finalist in Rainforests Photo Contest

Judge Favorite

Peer Award

+23

Superb Composition

Top Choice

Magnificent Capture

Absolute Masterpiece

All Star

Superior Skill

Outstanding Creativity

Top Ranks

Top 30 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 30 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 10 rank

Top 20 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

This was taken at the Arenal Volcano Lodge in Costa Rica. We were on a photography workshop and headed back to our rooms from a shoot somewhere else when we spotted a troupe of these spider monkeys shuttling around in the eucalyptus trees

Time

This was taken about 3 in the afternoon. In Costa Rica the sun was setting around 5:30 so the light was already beginning to fade.

Lighting

The light was pretty directional and getting dim, the monkey was in the treetops so there were lots of areas of shadow and some dappled light on the trees and then some areas of pretty bright light where there were gaps. It was very mixed light.

Equipment

I handheld my Canon 5DM3 and 500mm lens. No flash,

Inspiration

We would hear the monkeys in the morning and in the evening as they moved around the rainforest around the lodge and this was the first time we saw them out in the open, most of them were jumping from tree to tree but this fellow just decided to take a break for a few minutes. Long enough to get a few frames.

Editing

I lightened the monkey some with Nik Viveza and toned down the highlights, but that's about it.

In my camera bag

On a trip like this to Costa Rica I brought pretty much everything from my Canon 15mm fisheye to the 500mm f/4.0, which included a 16-35 f/2.8, my 24-105 f/4.0, my 100mm f/2.8 macro and my 70-200 f/2.8, along with the 2X and 1.4X teles and a set of extension tubes and each one of them got a lot of use. For bodies I had my 5DM3 and a 7DM1, the 5DM3 got the lions share of use. I also go everywhere with my tripod and my flash, even if I don't use it. The only thing that got left home was my 65mm MPE, and I did wish I had it with me.

Feedback

If you want to get pictures of monkeys like this you have to be patient and be up early and go out at the edge of dark, although it would be nice to have used a tripod it was one of the few times that a tripod would have been a hindrance since I couldn't move around fast enough with it. Go with a reputable photography workshop group and you will see and get an opportunity to photograph things you probably couldn't find on your own.

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HaliSowle

HaliSowle

At his leisure

Spider monkey taking a break in a eucalyptus tree.

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow HaliSowle

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