I photographed this wonderfully active three-toed sloth (Bradypus spp.) last May at the Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Panama is host to a myriad of rainforest species, including the two and three-toed sloths. Unlike Costa Rican sloths, which have large predators and stay hidden most of the day, their Panamanian cousins are often active and in the open during broad daylight.
Tech Specs
Nikon D850 with 500mm f/5.6E PF VR Nikkor lens 1/800s f/5.6 ISO 400
Most people have heard of the famous Blue-footed booby, but the Galapágos is home to several other species of these comical birds, such as this Nazca booby. While boobies are quite ungainly on land, they are agile in flight and excellent swimmers.
Bird photography is probably one of the most challenging activities for a nature photographer to tackle. I started out like most people, trying to take a photo of a bird in a tree with a short (200mm) telephoto lens. When I look at my old photos, I sometimes have to squint to see the bird in them! Now I’m very happy with my bird photography, and as you’ll see it takes skill, patience, and a little bit of luck to really get a dynamic bird photo. I recently presented a live online webinar on bird photography, during which I shared some of my favorite photos and shared camera settings and tips on gear and processing. If you have some free time, I hope you can check it out.
