Stories
Rainforest wildlife photography : tips, tricks, and a wild encounter
There’s no right or wrong way to practice wildlife photography. Everyone has their methods, but overall, my best success has been when focusing on a distinct thing, say a specific species, a location/niche type, or even a particular time of day. Generally, by doing so, I get the best photos. Repeated exposure to this same thing coupled with a strong dose of patience makes you learn a lot about it and hence helps you improve your photos of whatever this ‘thing’ may be. But nature can be unpredictable, so it doesn’t hurt to be ready in case something happens…
Figure 1 – Sunrise at the Posada Amazonas Canopy Tower.
Wildlife photography: Focusing on a specific subject
If I’m focusing on a specific species, I will first try to learn as much as I can about it (such as its behavior and preferred habitat type). I can find such information by searching online (scientific papers, social media posts, blogs, forums); asking friends; and if need be, reaching out to respective specialists (guides, scientists, field researchers). I will also try to learn as much as possible while repeatedly observing this species in the field. If I’m lucky, I might start to learn some of this species’ predictable habits (although often in the rainforest, you will never find this predictability or even the species you’re after in the first place, so you might have to accept this and just move on. The Amazon is one of the most biodiverse habitats on earth so there will be some other species with predictability). For howler monkeys, predictable habits might look like what their favorite tree to sleep in is; for hummingbirds, what branch they like to perch on; for jaguars… well that’s quite hard really…
Figure 2 – Red Brocket Deer passing by a frequently used mammal trail (DSLR camera trap).
Predictability is your friend in the jungle, so if you do find it, exploit it as much as you can (figures 1, 2, 3 & 4 were all taken through exploiting such predictability). But unpredictability can also be your friend, so always be prepared in case something crazy happens. How can you be prepared for the unpredictable? Bring a couple of cameras, a few lenses, and a flash. That can help. Ideally a wide, a macro, and a telephoto lens.
Figure 3 – Semi-aquatic spider (Thaumasia sp.) on the water surface.
Figure 4 – Resident giant river otter from the Tres Chimbadas lake.
Check out Posada Amazonas Lodge Suggested Itinerary to watch Giant River Otters
Preparing For the Unpredictable on Wildlife Photography
In fact, just the other day, unpredictability was my friend (figures 5, 6 & 7 were also unpredictable photos – things that just happened in front of me by chance). I saw something I never thought I would. And I was kind of ready for it. I mean I got some photos that are in focus. The light wasn’t ideal but interesting behaviour in a photo beats crispness or sharpness any day in my opinion and this photo captured really cool behaviour. To cut to the chase, I focused on finding good animal trails to place a camera trap (fig 2) to capture some of the more elusive jungle wildlife. I was not walking quietly to stalk animals as I was concentrating on a different mission, but I had an extra pair of hands, so it didn’t hurt to hold my camera and telephoto lens in case something just fell onto my plate (the unpredictable). You never know what you might see once you leave your room, tent, or lodge – this is particularly relevant when you’re in the Amazon rainforest, but this also applies to wherever you are in the world.
Figure 5 – Two male frogs (Dendropsophus minutus) attempting to mate with a larger female.
Figure 6 – Green-And-Rufous kingfisher with frog (nearly completed metamorphosis) prey.
About an hour in, scouting for camera trap locations, I hear an animal noise I have never heard before. A noise that is almost impossible to ignore as it is right above me and being repeatedly called four times with a short pause at the end before starting again. I stop to try and find the source of this noise… I notice movement in the trees and suddenly see a flash of red right in front of my eyes. Too fast to properly identify the animal I continue searching and start imagining what it could be… The noise sounded like an alarm call and reminded me of squirrel monkey social calls… So, I started thinking the red was blood from an injured squirrel monkey being preyed upon by something larger… The movement carries on and suddenly I see a bird fly from one branch to the next. The red flash wasn’t blood but just the color of this bird’s ventral tail feathers. I continue searching, this time through my camera’s viewfinder when suddenly I see the characteristic beak of a toucan. But this beak was holding another winged animal that was very much still alive and seemingly screaming for its life.
Figure 7 – Two howler monkeys eating mineral-rich clay at a clay lick.
Visit 2 or more clay licks on an expedition to Tambopata Research Center- Check out here.
With its beak, the toucan starts hitting this animal on the branch it is perched on. It is clearly predating something, but I still can’t see exactly what. Eventually, I noticed the toucan was holding a bat in its beak.
Figure 8 – White-Throated Toucan predating a bat (Stenodermatinae subfamily).
I start taking as many photos as I can. Very quickly the toucan flies higher in the canopy where I can no longer see it. I am still hearing the bat making this unique noise. After about a minute, the bat noise stops… The toucan must have killed/eaten the bat.
I knew that toucans were predators capable of eating anything they could swallow, from frogs to birds, but I guess I had never witnessed such behavior. In my mind, I had pictured toucans as cute, gentle birds, with their characteristic beaks. But witnessing this commotion has changed my perspective on them: they’re awesome and I’m sure cute in many ways, but not cute in the way I was thinking… Anyway, the moral of the story is to be prepared. My camera was in my hand when this happened. If it had been in my bag, I probably would have missed these shots as everything happened so quickly.
By Louis Guillot
About me
My name is Louis Guillot, I’m a wildlife photographer, zoologist, and children’s forest educator. I have long been interested in wild places from all corners of the world, from the streets of urban London to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. I’m often asked what my favorite animals/groups are… The truth is I love everything from ants to hummingbirds, to larger mammals and parasitic wasps. I get obsessed with certain things, stick with those for a while, and then move on before realizing I’m coming back to the original obsession again and going in circles… But I love doing this.
If you want to follow more of my stories and photos, please check out my Instagram here.
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What our guest say
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- Valuation Excellent
- 5/5
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A truly magical experience. It’s set in a completely unique location in the middle of the jungle with no other lodges around. The guide we had (Jarinson) was the best, so so knowledgeable, experienced and lovely to spend the time with. The lodge itself is beautiful and food was great too. Would highly recommend. Read all
Interesting bus and river boat rides bring you to Posada Amazonas on the Tambopata River. It’s managed by the Ese Eja indigenous community. Luis M., our guide, helped us observe birds and learn about plants and other animals. A canopy tower, clay lick and oxbow lake are highlights. All personnel are extremely kind and researchers give short lectures in the evening. The food is delicious! Excellent mosquito netting in rooms! Read all
Wow where do I even begin. This was one of the most unique and special experiences we've ever had. You are smack dab in the middle of nowhere, deep in the Amazon jungle. Surrounded by plants and animals of all kinds and some of the most breathtaking scenery you can imagine. And in the company of scientists doing conservation work all around you. The facility is gorgeous beyond belief. Everything is so thoughtfully prepared, from water servers everywhere to comfy couches to hammocks to raised walkways so you can pad around barefoot without feeling like you're going to step on a scorpion. The meals are positively gourmet. They have delicious fresh juice out for you when you come back from your hikes. We spend 2 days there and I genuinely feel like I saw the jungle. 2-3 excursions a day with a private guide to show you everything from plants to birds to animals to a very tall tower where you can watch the sunset over the canopy. We only had 3 people in our group but I believe there can be up to 7. You have the same guide your whole trip so you really get to know them. Johan was our guide and he was wonderful. And I do believe the number of excursions/type/length can be adjusted based on your groups physical ability. The rooms are beautiful and comfy and they help you prepare mosquito netting at night so you can be comfortable. There's a full bar, in the middle of the rainforest. At night there are short (30 min) lectures you can go to if you want where the scientists talk about their work. Fascinating. We loved that the center was very eco conscious and put a lot of effort into being low impact while also offering a truly luxurious experience. That being said. Do yourself a favor and read the web site. This experience will not be for everyone. Ppl posting negative comments here about the heat, bugs, open rooms, etc did not do their homework. You are far, far inside pristine Amazon jungle. It is hot, humid, rainy, and there are bugs. You can expect to use your lovely shower a few times a day to cool off. Fortunately you have lots of down time during the heat of the day to rest under the ceiling fan in your room. There were lots of grasshoppers, moths etc around our room but honestly we didn't have many issues with biting insects or mosquitos despite visiting during the rainy season (we did use bug spray). Your room has one open wall that faces nature. Yes, technically than means someone could see you walking around naked in your room, but you are 15 feet up in the air and facing directly into thick jungle, there is no one out there besides birds and monkeys to see you. They do cut the brush back so nothing except maybe some birds could get into your room. The sounds are magical at night and during the day. It's hot especially if you go during the rainy season as we did. If you hate bugs or can't handle life without air conditioning, this is not for you. Truthfully we had no issues sleeping. Ventilation is another big benefit of the one open wall. Think of this as the glampiest glamping you'll ever do and you will not be disappointed. Read the web site and reviews thoroughly and you won't be surprised. Being good hiking shoes, a lightweight waterproof jacket, refillable water bottle, a hat, binoculars (you can rent them too), bug spray, and sunscreen. Lightweight long sleeved shirts and long pants are essential bc you want to be covered so you won't get bitten or in case you brush up against a nasty plant. We saw monkeys, macaws, capybaras, owls, a caiman, and some cool jungle bugs. The guides even have a telescope you can use to both look at the animals and take great pictures with your phone. once in a lifetime experience in one of the most special and precious ecosystems in the world. Worth every penny and honestly we felt the price was cheap considering what you get. The highlight of our trip to Peru. Thank you so much. Read all
It was our first time in the rainforest and we wouldn't do it any other way. The boat rides on the Madre de Dios and the walks through the rainforests were both exciting and peaceful. Exciting when we spotted wildlife and peaceful as we settled in to hear the sounds and sights of the forest. The lodge was comfortable and the food was great. The research talks in the evenings were a great pre-dinner ritual for us. Do check them out. Saul was an amazing guide - friendly, fun, knowledgeable and very tuned to the rainforest. He could pick up on slight sounds and movements and helped us spot some great wildlife. Read all
TRC is up close with nature deep inside the Peruvian Amazon. If you are a fan of wildlife and love being in the nature this is the place for you. This is an eco lodge, so come with similar expectations. The sound of macaws flying over would make your day. TRC is doing some amazing work on Macaw conservation, the visits to the clay lick would be special. During your journey you would be able to spot a number of animals, birds. Do not miss the guided walks, you would really see a lot of monkeys. If you are a photographer, invest in a good zoom lens ( it will pay you back). The other thing is the amazing staff that take care of you. The food is among the very best I tasted in Peru and they really pamper you. So make sure you walk a lot to burn the additional calories :) Starting from the booking to the pickup in the airport everything is meticulously planned. From Mariella of the booking team, Juan Carlos the guide and Tania, our manager in the hotel everyone was fantastic. Ultimately spotting wild animals is a lot of luck, but this would be a great experience. Rooms: Rooms are large, spacious with wide open balconies, but no monkeys come in ( they strictly don't encourage wildlife feeding). Nearby activities: Lots of them, morning hikes, afternoon hikes, sunset cruise Walkability: You need to walk a bit, so you need to be mobile Food & drinks: Awesome Buffet, great food. Read all
TRC is up close with nature deep inside the Peruvian Amazon. If you are a fan of wildlife and love being in the nature this is the place for you. This is an eco lodge, so come with similar expectations. The sound of macaws flying over would make your day. TRC is doing some amazing work on Macaw conservation, the visits to the clay lick would be special. During your journey you would be able to spot a number of animals, birds. Do not miss the guided walks, you would really see a lot of monkeys. If you are a photographer, invest in a good zoom lens ( it will pay you back). The other thing is the amazing staff that take care of you. The food is among the very best I tasted in Peru and they really pamper you. So make sure you walk a lot to burn the additional calories :) Starting from the booking to the pickup in the airport everything is meticulously planned. From Mariella of the booking team, Juan Carlos the guide and Tania, our manager in the hotel everyone was fantastic. Ultimately spotting wild animals is a lot of luck, but this would be a great experience. Read all
The immersion experience was great. Be prepared though to feel hot and full of bug spray much of the time. Wear hiking pants. Not Lulu leggings (too hot). The guides are great and you can do as much or as little as you want. We saw a lot of animals. Read all
Posadas Amazonas is an eco-friendly lodge that makes a huge commitment to preserving the rainforest for generations to come. The food served (breakfast, lunch and dinner) is fresh and delicious! The staff is extremely knowledgeable and caring. A special shoutout to the lodge manager Cesar for ensuring that we had packed meals for the onward journey when we were delayed by a rain storm. The main attractions apart from the abundant wildlife are the canopy tower and nearby Oxbow lake. The canopy tower gives a great 360 degree view of the rainforest and we were fortunate to see monkeys and macaws from the vantage point. At the Oxbow lake we saw river otters and Caimans and we were able to catch a piranha fish as well. Overall, Posada Amazonas is a great lodge owned and operated by the native communities located in the amazing Amazon rainforest. Read all
I had an amazing time here. I was traveling solo and did 4 days/3 nights through Inca Expert Travel. It was an unforgettable experience! I opted for a group tour for the excursions and am glad I did. Our guide, Boris, was fantastic and made sure we saw as much wildlife as possible. I can't say enough good things about him. The rest of the staff were also very kind. I enjoyed the large variety of fresh food at each meal. I felt safe and well-taken care of the entire time. Read all
TRC was an amazing place to stay. Being in the Amazon rainforest was truly like no other trip I have or will ever take. From arrival we were greeted by staff with cool drinks, warm welcomes. Beautiful main area w bar, sofas, tables,games. Our guide Fernando was SO knowledgeable, interesting, enthusiastic,. We already miss his smile and laugh :) We did every excursion available over our 4 days there. The night hike turned out to be our favorite as we spotted the wandering spider then and many other intersting moths/insects. January is hot and humid, so yes expect to be wet,sweaty. Pack extra bag for wet stinky clothes ... Be ok w insects as no 4th wall in your rooms so at night mosquitio nets do a good job preventing bugs in your bed but when you wake up to use bathroom excpect moths, grasshopppers etc in room. All harmless!! TRC does provide nice rainboots for wet swampy treks.. Read all
A perfect experience in the Amazon. Harry, our guide, made the entire experience very memorable. The food is good, the bar is expensive but good and the support staff were excellent. Tanya, the manager, took care of all our needs and was very supportive the entire stay. Please remember that the rooms are open to the nature and therefore comes with its pros and cons. You wake up with the nature including the mosquitos :) The experiences offered by the Refugio is fantastic and provides a great exposure to the Amazon. Dont miss the Macaw trip. It is just magical. Read all
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! From the getgo, it was easy to coordinate our 4-day stay at Tambopata. The booking was all done via email with quick responses, there was clear communication leading up to our stay and even upon arrival the staff was extremely organized (incl. taking our bags and making sure they arrived to our rooms). During our stay the staff was all very friendly and accomodating, the lodge was always clean (actually impressively clean given it is located in the jungle), and the food was great and plentiful. By far the best part of our stay was our tour guide, Saul. Upon arrival, Saul helped us pick our activities based on what animals we wanted to see (using his 10 years of experience). He worked on timing to make sure we can see as much as possible, was extremely knowledgable on the rainforest, the plants, the insects and the animals and noticeably put in the extra effort to find animals. You can tell that he truly loves his job and was always equally as excited to see the animals as us, even though he has seen them thousands of times. He helped us find monkeys, birds, countless insects, lizards, capybaras ect. I am 100% confident our experience wouldn't be the same without him. He even helped us capture these cool photos with only our iphone!! If you are planning to stay are TRC, I would highly recommend asking for Saul as a tour guide, if possible. Read all
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