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Professional nature photographer Todd Gustafson shares his top tips for making the most of your time in Costa Rica so you can return with a portfolio as abundant as the rainforest.<\/p>\n
Pack Light<\/strong><\/p>\n Even without airline luggage restrictions, there\u2019s really no need to bring lots of photography equipment. Besides your camera, the only other photo equipment you\u2019re likely to want is a lightweight tripod, and even that isn\u2019t mandatory. If you have any additional lenses, of course bring them with you.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a professional photographer, one big lens (such as a 600 mm with a 1.7x teleconverter) and one macro lens (105, 120, or 180 mm) should cover most of your needs.<\/p>\n Rain<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Good lens covers are important, but they don\u2019t need to be fancy. While several companies make lens covers that can get as complex as plastic vinyl with drawstrings, a simple garbage bag in your pocket can act as the perfect protection to cover your equipment when it rains.<\/p>\n Rain doesn\u2019t always mean that you\u2019re stuck inside. In fact, rain is a critical part of the ecosystem in Costa Rica and can offer a great opportunity to snap photos of frogs, who love moist environments. Birds seek shelter from the rain under trees, so if you wait patiently by a fruiting tree, the birds will flock there to feed once the rain passes.<\/p>\n Humidity<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s no secret that the rainforest is humid, and condensation can build up inside and outside of your camera, causing your lens to fog. If your room has air conditioning, leave your lenses in the humid bathroom with the door closed overnight; when you wake up they will have adapted to the humidity and won\u2019t fog up when you step outside.<\/p>\n Sun & Insects<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It should go without saying, but don\u2019t forget to protect yourself by covering up with sunscreen and a hat. And of course, insect repellant is important in this warm, moist climate.<\/p>\n Learn About Costa Rica<\/strong><\/p>\n Before you leave for a Costa Rica photo adventure, do a bit of homework and study up on the region and some of its many photo opportunities, which include among so many other subjects, landscapes, seascapes, thousands of flowering plants, and wildlife.<\/p>\n If you are especially interested in the wildlife, then as with all wildlife photography, the more you know about the habitats and behaviors of a particular species, the more prepared you\u2019ll be and the greater your chances are of creating some very special images.<\/p>\n If bird photography is high on your list, then this is the place to visit, as it has more than 850 different species of birds.<\/p>\n If you are an amateur photographer, it\u2019s always a good idea to become familiar with your camera equipment and how to use it before you leave on a photo adventure.<\/p>\n Whether you have a point-and-shoot with great zoom capabilities or a DSLR with a variety of lenses, you\u2019re going to miss out on a lot of great photo opportunities if you haven\u2019t become intimate with your camera.<\/p>\n So practice, practice, and practice some more. Portraits of animals and birds are wonderful, but if you know how to use your camera and know its capabilities, you\u2019ll be able to capture some great action images too.<\/p>\n It\u2019s inevitable that even the most experienced photographer will miss out on making some photos. Don\u2019t despair. Costa Rica has incredible biodiversity, and there\u2019s so much to see that a few missed photographs won\u2019t really matter because it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll get another opportunity down the next rainforest or mountain trail.<\/p>\n Generally, the best locations for photography are places where animals are accustomed to people within their territory. You might think that an area of undisturbed virgin rainforest will yield the best results, but in reality, the animals will be scared and hide.<\/p>\n To make the most of your time in the country, I would suggest utilizing the skills and wisdom of an experienced photography guide and\/or naturalist who is well-acquainted with the various ecosystems. This can make all difference in getting to a desired location or finding the wildlife within each of those areas.<\/p>\n Note: Regardless of your location, it\u2019s always important to respect wildlife and never sneak up on an animal. Walk around slowly and quietly, without looking too interested in the animal or appearing like a potential threat.<\/p>\n Easy<\/strong><\/p>\n Sloths:<\/strong> These slow moving creatures will give you time to get your camera gear set up.<\/p>\n Quetzals and Toucans:<\/strong> Usually easily found at fruit trees.<\/p>\n Turtles:<\/strong> Remain very still, but require a slow approach to avoid frightening them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Medium Hummingbirds:<\/strong><\/em> Hummers require a certain technique to photograph, but once you\u2019ve mastered the technique their predictable behaviors make them fairly accessible.<\/p>\n Monkeys:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0The leader monkey will be swinging wildly from branch to branch, making it seem impossible for your camera to keep up, but watch his path carefully because the rest of the monkeys will soon follow!<\/p>\n Difficult<\/strong><\/p>\n Snakes:<\/strong><\/em> Be careful and don\u2019t get too close!<\/p>\n Edit As You Go<\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t wait until you get home to edit your photos. Instead, set aside some time each evening to review the photos that you took that day. Evaluate your photos and take note if your focus was off or your shutter speed was too slow, so the next day you can try again with a better approach. If you got the perfect shot today, you can use tomorrow to move on to different subjects.<\/p>\n Costa Rica\u2019s wildlife and beauty are so abundant that even photographing blindly will probably result in at least a decent variety of photos, but knowing what you want will bring your results to a whole new level. The Costa Rica photography opportunities are endless.<\/p>\n These tips should provide you with a good basis for your Costa Rica photography trip, but experience is always the best teacher of all. Figure out what works for you, stay focused on your goals, and most of all \u2013 have fun!<\/p>\n by Joanna Livingstone & Todd Gustafson![\"Tips](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/june2013\/Holbrook-Travel_photos\/Holbrook-Frog-2.jpg\")
Be Prepared For The Weather On Costa Rica Photography Adventure<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Practice with Your Camera<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Where to Find Wildlife Subjects<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Wildlife Difficulty Levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Photographing](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/june2013\/Holbrook-Travel_photos\/Holbrook-Frog-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nGlass Frog
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\nFrogs:<\/em><\/strong> Unsurprisingly, frogs move very quickly and hop around a lot, so be prepared.<\/p>\n![\"Photographing](\"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/june2013\/Holbrook-Travel_photos\/Holbrook-Turtle.jpg\")
Stay Focused; Have Fun<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nClick here to visit Holbrook Travel.
\nAll text & photos: \u00a9 2013 Todd Gustafson, Gustafson Photo Safari. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"