Ecuador - Rainforest, cloud forest and the Galápagos

The W

The W

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Paul
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Back in April I was lucky enough to make my first visit to South America, spending two weeks in Ecuador. Three days in the Amazon, a day in the cloud forest, and a week on a yacht around the Galápagos. I found it quite a challenging set of locations; not enough light in the forests, and too harsh lights in the Galápagos! In all I took 7000 photos, sorting those is a task I've barely started.

Rainforest
We spent three nights at the Sacha Lodge resort. An amazing location next to a tranquil blackwater lake. The highlight was five species of primates. The most photographic were the Common Squirrel monkeys that appeared around the lodge at 4pm every day.


Common Squirrel Monkey by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr


Chicken with a Mohawk by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr

Cloudforest
A day trip to the Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge and Reserve. The thing that attracts everybody here are the hundreds of hummingbirds that buzz around the feeders. We saw probably ten species of hummingbird, from ones with long blue tails to tiny ones that sound like bumble bees.


Buff-tailed Coronet by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr


Galapagos

We spent a week on a 16 guest yacht, with two land visits each day. Unfortunately the light was too harsh due to the designated landing times not being close enough to sunrise/set. Plus having to stick close to your naturalist guide limits the ability to spend time with good photo ops. If I go back, I'd definitely want to do so with a specialist photographers expedition. Swimming with sea lions was one of my highlights (lowlight: slipping on the steps on the boat and trying to break my back)


Galápagos Sea Lion by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr


Razor Surgeonfish by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr


Preening Blue-footed Booby by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr


Bad Hair Day by Paul Whitbread, on Flickr

I hope you enjoyed those. If I ever face loading up the other 6993 photos in Lightroom, I'll post an update.
 
Sounds like a fantastic trip and some lovely shots to kick of with.

All the best with the grind of sorting through the remainder and I'll look forward to the next ones (y)
 
Cracking set,
Particularly the sea lion
and the squirrel monkey (y)
 
A very good set..... I especially liked the preening Blue Footed Booby, great colour matching of the bird and the rock, a well taken shot. I also like the Buff Tailed Coronet
Look forward to the next set.
 
Its the hummingbird for me, fantastic shot. Did you do a bit of diving in the Galapagos?
 
Wonderful shots. I do envy people who have this kind of wildlife on the doorstep. They say Costa Rica is tops too.
 
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment.

Longimanus said:
Its the hummingbird for me, fantastic shot. Did you do a bit of diving in the Galapagos?
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No, just floating around the surface. Learn to scuba is something I need to try one day.
 
^Joe said:
Paul, Stunning shots, all very well taken. I am mid way planning my trip next year; Galapagos, Peru & Equador (& Miami). I'd love to fire some questions over to you if I may, via pm?
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Fire away. One trip does not an expert make but I'll provide what insight I can.
 
Looks like a fantastic trip (except on the boat steps :) ) some great photos there, love the 1st and the sea-lion :)
 
Hi Paul
A really good set of images love the humming bird images. Hope you don't mind the next questions.
Me and my wife are hoping to do the cloud forest and Galapagos next year if you don't mind me asking what kit did you take with you and who did you go with. What else would you have taken with you kit wise after being there.
Regards
Richard
 
For the rainforest and cloudforest; A 1DX, a 400mm f2.8 and a deep understanding of the art of flash!

^Joe asked a similar question, I'll dig out what I wrote and post it here.
 
Thanks Paul
Trying to work out what to take with me is doing my head in I was tempted to take the 600mm f4 i.s with me but because I am taking an underwater housing with me weight and space will be an issue. Do you think the 300mm f2.8 i.s and 1.4 and 2 x would suffice or do you think the extra reach of the 600 would be better teamed with a 1.4. sorry to be a pain over the questions. We are hoping to do about 19 days taking in the Cloud forest and Galapagos
Regards
Richard
 
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I took a 70-200 f2.8 and a 100-400 on a crop-body (plus 1.4x mkI). Lack of light was a bigger issue than reach*. The hummingbird feeders at the Cloud forest mean you can get as close or far as you need, but they're all set up in the shade (and in some cases with in-sun background). The wildlife in the Galápagos is famously tame. So while a nice 600mm would give some pretty nice bokeh or occasionally open up different options, I think even the bare 300mm would leave you going home with some nice images. Having used neither I can't comment on the trade off of 300mm + 2x vs 600mm.

(I only recall really wanting more reach during our rainforest stay, where an 800mm f1.8 would have been ideal!)
 
Some great pictures.

Must put Ecuador on the list.

Was in the Pantanal a couple of years ago,epic place.
 
what's it like out there Paul, climate wise, is it hot and humid and what are the "nature trail" walks like
 
Yes it's hot and humid. Not as much as I expected but enough to put me off my game a bit while I got used to it.
 
The W said:
Yes it's hot and humid. Not as much as I expected but enough to put me off my game a bit while I got used to it.
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Thanks Paul

I'm a few years into drawing my pension age, so I need as many mod cons as possible
 
More cracking shots

I've waited a long time to say nice Booby ;)
 
Hi Paul
Some more really good images I have had to postpone my trip. I am really looking forward to seeing some more of your images from the trip
Regards
Richard
 
I love the crab pic.
What lens were you using?
I'm of to Cotopaxi later this year and was thinking of taking a tamron 16-300 with me
 
I'm pretty sure it was taken using my 100-400 mkI.

Thanks to everyone for the continued interest in this thread.
 
My ultimate dream is to go to South America - take a trip down the Amazon, visit the Galapagos Islands, see Peru and stay in Havanna....However my hubby has no wish to visit South America and its too long a trip to do on my own (I have no one I can go with who could afford such a trip) so it's fantastic seeing these shots - the crab is by far my favourite.
 
Cracking images Paul, has to be the first humming bird shot for me. Very envious of the trip- I need to persuade the wife to let me dissapear for a while!
Did you use the 1DX for the underwater stuff? If so what casing did you use?
 
The underwater stuff is actually an RX100 in an Ikelite housing. I need to book a holiday somewhere with decent reefs so I can justify the cost!
 
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