This striated heron was photographed with an effective focal length of 600mm (Canon 300mm f/2.8 + 2X TC) from a boat on Tres Chimbadas lake, near Posada Amazonas.
When shooting from a motorized boat, one should bring a zoom lens rather than a prime (fixed focal length), as one has less control over the approach and framing. Make sure that the lens has been kept dry overnight/before the boat trip (otherwise the temp./humidity change between your room and the open boat will fog your lens and potentially ruin the opportunity).
Jaguar sighting near the river By Paul Bertner
A puma launched itself down the riverbank at a group of capybaras on the way back to Puerto Maldonado
A puma launched itself down the riverbank at a group of capybaras on the way back to Puerto Maldonado. Shot handheld with a Canon 300mm f/2.8 lens from the boat. A 100-400 zoom lens would have provided a better overall picture, including the capybaras.
Capybaras huddled around their mother in the wake of the Puma attack
Landscape
| Lens |
Misc. |
| Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 L II |
Lee 100×100 foundational filter set |
| Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 |
Circular Polarizer)s) |
|
Tripod + ball head |
I personally find landscapes to be very challenging and I often need to plan ahead or else revisit a site multiple times in order to take advantage of climatic conditions, the position of the sun, cloud, fog, etc…
Filters and a steady tripod are a staple in landscape photography and are especially important gear to have in the bag (even as so-called digital filters are becoming increasingly powerful). One should be prepared to shoot in the rain and have numerous microfibre cloths to wipe down the front element.
Lightning strikes announce an impending storm during the rainy season at the TRC. Taken with a 16-35mm lens in the rain.
Tambopata landscape photography by Paul Bertner
After all these, you should be thinking How Paul’s photography equipment looks like?
A multi-month project often involves a variety of specialty tools. While working in Ecuador, and subsequently with Rainforest Expeditions in Peru, I required several suitcases worth of equipment to accommodate in-situ, studio, camera trapping, and drone photography. wildlife photography wildlife photography wildlife photography
I’m sure you be making your own packing list for your next adventure and I would love to know what you will be bringing to that wildlife photography expedition. So leave me a comment below.
I will leave you guys with my portfolio where you can see part of my work: https://rainforests.smugmug.com/
And remember if you want to do some wildlife photographing and you have the chance to visit Peru, don’t hesitate to visit the Amazon of Tambopata and contact my friend of Rainforest Expeditions.
by Paul Bertner
