Tag Archives: Peru

A Beautiful Relationship

Capybara and Cowbird, Tambopata River, Peru. Canon EOS 7D, Canon 600mm f/4, 1/1600 second @ f4.5, ISO 400

This is a beautiful, mutually-beneficial relationship between the capybara and the cowbird, or what science would refer to as symbiosis or mutualism. The poor capybara, the world’s largest rodent, is unmercifully pestered by biting insects. Just have a look at all the bloody bite marks on its outrageously bulbous nose. The opportunistic cowbird stays perched upon the capybara’s head or back and just feasts away on a seemingly infinite source of food while the capybara gets some temporary relief from the constant torture from above. The patient look of near bliss on the capybara’s face almost tells the whole story in one single image frame.

Capybara, Tambopata River, Peru. Canon EOS 7D, Canon 600mm f/4, 1/1200 second @ f4.5, ISO 400

I could not find a single image frame without biting insects on its nose or flying in the vicinity of its head. The Capybara is native to South American rain forests and has an average height of 20 to 25 inches and can weigh between 75 to 150 pounds.

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March 6, 2013 | 4 Comments

Posted in Images, Uncategorized | Tagged Peru, rainforest, Wildlife

12 for ’12: The Year’s Best

It’s that time of year, once again, when we look back at the year that was and weigh our accomplishments. Well, you always hope that there are accomplishments worthy of looking back on. If nothing else, there’s always weighing the regrets.

Anyway, last year I posted my favorite images from 2011 – Eleven for ’11. Naturally, this year it’s 12 for ’12. They are all favorites of mine for a reason, although the reasons may not be so obvious to everyone else. Nonetheless, I’ll try to give some insight. So here they are listed in chronological order, starting this past January.

“Paradise Found”
Harrismith Beach, Barbados
January 21, 2012

Just another brutal day in paradise, I posted earlier in the year. I think what I liked best about this image is that it was completely secluded. I didn’t have to clone out a single human.

“Ahwahnee Dream”
Yosemite National Park, California, USA
February 15, 2012

One of my favorite things about this image is that it was taken from a very popular vantage point in Yosemite National Park. Still I was able to come away with something unique and original, thanks to the thickening fog in the valley.

“Red Patagonia Dawn”
Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
April 6, 2012

The location, the light, and the effort to get there (I led three of my clients who opted for the backcountry extension to the Patagonia workshop up this steep, ice-covered trail to be here by sunrise) were all factors in this image making the cut.

“Crowning Glory”
Arches National Park, Utah, USA
May 18, 2012

The low-angled light sweeping over the textured sandstone, the dynamic leading lines, the cloud movement during this 30-second exposure make this a clear favorite of mine. I don’t practice many black and white conversions but I was surprised to find two in my favorites for 2012.

“Light Room”
Arches National Park, Utah, USA
May 21, 2012

I love night photography and Arches National Park is one of my favorite places to “do it in the dark.” Ok, shameless plug here: Night photography, Arches National Park, November 6-9, 2013. Thanks for listening.

“River of Light”
The Seine, Paris, France
June 24, 2012

Amazing sunset. Paris, France. What else is there to say?

“Chasing Magic”
Kirkjufellsfoss, Iceland
July 25, 2012

Persistance. I waited four nights in order to get light that I was looking for at this location. I was prepared for a 5th, if necessary.

“Blood Sport”
Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
August 23, 2012

The Decisive Moment, as Henri Cartier-Bresson might describe this image. This is only one image frame in an entire sequence I posted back in September: Life and Death in Katmai.

“The Spine of Time”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
October 23, 2012

If I had a “home” national park, the Smokies would be it. This image captures the essence of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park perhaps better than any other I have taken in the past dozen years or so.

“The Lost City”
Machu Picchu, Peru
November 16, 2012

Rain, rain, and more rain with some impenetrable fog and gloomy skies – but for a brief 40-seconds of optimism. And I was ready.

“Winter’s Blush”
Horgardalur Valley, Iceland
December 9, 2012

This is as much sun and light as you will get in northern Iceland in December. But oh what lovely light it is…

“Midnight’s Children”
Trollaskagi Peninsula, Iceland
December 12, 2012

I had never seen the northern lights before, despite two previous summer trips to Iceland and two summer trips to Alaska. The aurora is what brought me to Iceland in the depths of winter and I was not disappointed.

Thanks for sharing 2012 with me.

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December 27, 2012 | 16 Comments

Posted in Images | Tagged Alaska, Argentina, Barbados, bears, California, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Iceland, landscape photography, Nature Photography, Patagonia, Peru, Tennessee, Winter

Gitzo and I: A Coda

The Lost City, Machu Picchu, Peru

When I last left you nearly two weeks ago, I was expressing my extreme displeasure with Gitzo for the lack of a response in addressing my broken tripod. This wasn’t merely an isolated incident with the “Industry Standard for Excellence” but instead it was the proverbial last straw for me. One commenter wholeheartedly agreed and thanked me for pointing out that the emperor, indeed, had no clothes. The folks at Gitzo, on the other hand, “thanked” me for – in their words, “ripping them a new one.”

Other readers believed I was being a bit unfair. After all, how about my beloved Righteous Set of Sticks? OK, fair enough. The Righteous Set of Sticks, however, is now officially semi-retired and it only managed to
attain a long life by cannibalizing parts and pieces from my other crippled Gitzo tripods.

After reaching out to a contact I had in Gitzo’s upper management, I did eventually get the parts I had been requesting for the past month. I am grateful for the help, but it’s too little too late, I’m afraid. It should never have gotten as far as it did.

In the meantime, I’ve accepted a sponsorship offer from Really Right Stuff. When I return from Iceland in a few weeks, I’ll be using their products – including tripods – exclusively. Really Right Stuff makes the best camera support products in the business. Their tripods, ballheads, and camera and lens plates aren’t cheap, but when did I ever complain about the price of Gitzo tripods? Well, that would be never. I’m only interested in equipment that works, so I don’t have to think about it. I only want to focus on creating great images.

And when something does go wrong and breaks – and let’s face it, all photo equipment will have problems eventually – I want someone on the other end of the line who is going to help me get it fixed ASAP. I’m pretty tough on my equipment due to the amount of time and the way it’s used. Really Right Stuff, because of the quality of their products and their commitment to customer service, is the best partner for my business at this time.

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December 2, 2012 | 12 Comments

Posted in Announcements | Tagged Peru

Red Howlers

Red Howler Monkeys, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru. Canon EOS 7D, Canon 600mm with TC 1.4x extender, 1/100 second at f5.6, ISO 320

As many of you already know from my two previous posts to Earth and Light, I have just returned from Peru where I had the opportunity to sample much of what the country has to offer in terms of natural beauty. One of these places is Tambopata National Reserve, one of the most biologically diverse areas within the Amazonian basin.

I spent a week in Tambopata – in the same set of clothes – while leading a photo tour and workshop with my friend, Ian Plant. Each and every morning the dawn was greeted by the roar of red howler monkeys, one of the loudest animals on the planet. Their howls could be heard from several miles away and are at the same time both awesome and haunting.

Photographing them was usually difficult. Red howlers live high in the tree canopy and rarely come down to the ground – except during times of extreme drought, which is rare in a rainforest. Everything they need is up in the trees – food, water (trapped in the leaves), shelter, and other red howlers. Trying to photography up high into the canopy is as difficult as it sounds. Mixed lighting, bright overcast skies as a backdrop, and awkward body positions behind the camera were all part of a perpetual challenge.

This group of howlers was different. They were hanging out – literally – right in front of our lodge at the Tambopata Reseach Center. Soft, late evening light brought out the bold orange and maroon hues of their fur and the sky behind them was a lazy blue.

We are possibly leading another trip to Peru next year and will offer it as a workshop and tour once again. Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley could be added to Tambopata for an unforgettable Peru experience. Stay tuned for details.

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November 19, 2012 | 1 Comment

Posted in Images | Tagged Peru, Wildlife

CPCD #2 – Ausangate

This is my second CPCD post – this time from the city of Cusco, Peru.

Ian Plant and I just completed a four day, 40 mile trek to Peru’s Ausangate, one of the most sacred of mountains to the Incan people. This trek involved some serious high altitude hiking, with two passes along the trail exceeding 16,000 feet in elevation. This crappy phone cam image shows our tent on the first night of our trek. Neither of the two mountains shown in the background of the image are that of Ausangate, but I promise there will be later after I return home on the 18th.