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.