Galapagos Islands report

Hi everyone -


We got back a week ago from an outstanding trip to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. It certainly lives up to its billing as one of the best places for photography on the planet. Not only do you get an enormous variety of subjects that you can't see anywhere else, you are also able to get incredibly close to all the wildlife. They simply don't care about you at all! On more than one occasion I had to step back to get a good bird photo... where else do you run into that problem?


I've been pretty much glued to my computer for the last week, sorting through the nearly 4,000 shots I took during the week. I've posted 33 of my favourites on my website: www.huyerperspectives.com


Meanwhile, here is a summary of the equipment I brought and how useful it was:


SLR Cameras: Canon 1D3 and 5D2. Obviously no complaints with these toys... they worked great. I carried both of them with a Black Rapid dual strap system, and it worked brilliantly. Many people asked me about the Black Rapid strap when they saw how well it worked for hoisting two cameras.


Point and Shoot: Canon G12 with underwater housing for snorkeling - worked incredibly well. Excellent camera to carry around at all times. I pulled it out for 'snapshot' photos on regular occasion too. I carried it in a Think Tank belt system.


Lenses:


300 mm f/2.8: I usually had this on my 1D3, and it generated about a thirdof my favourite shots. I was glad to have this focal length available, but you could get the same results with a smaller lens (like the 300 f/4, or perhaps the new 70-300 zoom).


70-200 f/2.8: My most used lens. I usually had this on my 5D2. If the 300 was too much length, I'd grab this instead.


24-70 f/2.8: I typically carried this lens in my Think Tank belt pouch, and used it quite a lot.


16-35 f/2.8: I didn't use this lens much at all. Maybe because I have the 5D2, and found that 24 mm focal length was more than wide enough when I needed it.


1.4 TC: I carried this but didn't use it much.


Filters:


The polarizer is your best friend. I usually left it on at all times (except the 300, which I don't filter). The lighting can be very harsh, with the sun traveling directly overhead.


Tripod:


My wife was very kind to carry my Gitzo traveler tripod for me, and I did grab it on several occasions when there was ample time to compose shots. It allowed me to get extra-sharp images with the 1D3 / 300 mm lens arrangement.


Other:


We were lucky to be on an air-conditioned boat, but since it is so humid out there your camera would fog up as soon as you went outdoors. So I eventually learned to bring the camera out well in advance to avoid that problem. A lot of you are probably thinking, "well, duh". But hey, I'm from Canada... heat and humidity are quite a novelty for me..!


Let me know if you'd like any more information on the Galapagos. We also spent 4 nights at a lodge in the rainforest, and I'm just starting to sort through those pictures now. Way too fun.


Jon Huyer


Calgary, Alberta

Jon,


Just wanted to say great shots. The sea lions on the beach is my favorite of the 33.


I cant wait until the day I get to go there, until then I will just look at your photos and dream about it.


Nick

Really beautiful photos! Your website is top class as well. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Truly looks like you visited paradise! Very nice photos, Jon!!


I will probably never get the chance to visit myself so thank you very much for sharing thise beautiful place in your photos!!


Denise

Greath Shots there, Jon. I know it must have been hard to pick from all the images you have taken! Some very interesting critters there.


Thanks for sharing


Dave.

Thanks very much! It is really an amazing shooting gallery out there... so much to choose from. I forgot to mention my experience with carry-on baggage. One of the things I was most worried about was how I was going to get all my equipment on board, without having to check anything fragile. I used a Think Tank "Airport Addicted 2.0" bag, which is the largest legal carry-on bag you can buy. It has backpack straps rather than wheels, to maximize internal space. It was way overweight (35 pounds) and I was ready to pull out a couple items if I had to. But it never got weighed, on any of the 6 flights we did. I just made sure to line up in front when the plane was boarding, to ensure I could find space to put the bag overhead. After that it was not a problem at all.

35 lbs?...yikes. i

Such amazing pictures, I really love them. My favourite one is the juvenile Galapagos hawk, allthough the Sally Lightfoot Crab (munching on a caterpillar) comes in really close. You made me jealous in two ways: I want to go there too, and I want your gear. (And yes, ofcourse a girl that will carry a tripod). What did it took you to make her do that;)?

Beautiful pictures Jon, breathtaking. Your processing and composition is first class.


You

Wow that's so kind of you. I'vealways been hugely inspired by the photos on this site and I am definitelya better photographer because of all of you. The Galapagos Islands are really beyond belief when it comes to photo opportunities, to the point that it's almost completely unfair. It's really hard not to get good results. I'm so spoiled now, it's going to be hard going back to the usual routine at home of searching hours for bird and wildlife shots.


My lovely wife carried my tripod on her daypack, so I was able to reach for it easily whenever I needed it. The Gitzo traveler tripod is super light, and it handled my 1D3 with the 300 f/2.8 lens quite acceptably (even though it's not rated for it). Without the tripod Ihad some difficulty in achieving 'tack sharp' images, even though there's lots of light available and usually you can get pretty high shutter speeds. So the heavy lens was probably a detriment when hand-holding, and something like the new 70-300 zoom would have been better. But I was glad to have the big aperture when we were in the jungle earlier, where the available light is much lower.


Thanks again,
Jon

That must have been an amazing experience. From the selection on your site, I'm impressed at the quality of the photo opportunities and what you made of those opportunities. Galapagos has been on my wish list for a long time. I had been waiting until I get a 500mm lens, but it sounds like I may not need one for Galapagos.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer

I had to step back to get a good bird photo... where else do you run into that problem?

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I suppose you might expect me to say this, but in the Antarctic the penguins are not too shy. I notice you've been there too.

Jon,


Great pictures. I love #6. Looks a little like an Uncle of mine [:P].


Thanks for sharing,


Brant

Yes I was fortunate to go to Antarctica in 2007, and that was probably the event that began to kick my photography hobby into high gear. I

Now all you have to book a flight to New Guinea and get some pictures of those Birds of Paradise!


John.

Hi Jonathan,


Absolutely fabulous shots and website. I'm in awe! Very professional looking, and I'm sure that any magazine looking to do a story on the Galapagos Islands would be very happy to publish many of your photos. I'm certain that you made Darwin very proud!


That looks like a really wonderful trip and I would love to go to there some day! I bookmarked this thread into my favorite location and photo op locations. Very sharp photos with beautiful contrast and colors.


You mentioned that you used the gitzo traveler tripod with the 300mm f/2.8 and 1D body. I would love to get a small travel tripod (I'm currently using the Gitzo 3541) and I wasn't sure if the traveler would be sufficient for this combo, so it's good to hear that it was capable.


What ballhead did you bring for this combo?


You also mentioned that the landings were wet on the beach, so did you also bring a dry bag for your equipment?


Would you mind posting some info regarding how you went about to book a trip like this, or some contact info if you used a tour group? [ap] [ip]


Thanks, [B]


Rich

Thanks Rich, that

Hey Jon,


I looked some of the other pictures in your website, great stuff there! Anyway, do you actually sell any of them? I know some other people that are having a hard time selling there

On rare occasion I do sell a print, but it is really a blue moon type of event. People can buy photos from my SmugMug site but it almost never happens. I don

Jon,


I like the idea of the RRS B2-FAB Clamp for the black rapid strap. It

As a postscript, I've just added a short album to my website www.huyerperspectives.comto show a dozen shots from our trip extension to a rainforest lodge. For those interested in seeing a whole lot more photos with complete descriptions, I have web albums of the journey at picasaweb.google.com/jhuyer


Thanks for viewing!


Jon

Again lovely, especially the pictures in your picassa album because of your comments and explanations. I love the high-speed action pictures of the blue footed booby with the different angles of it

Great work, Jonathan. I have had this destination on my list for too long now, so today I did something about it. I'll be heading there in June. Thanks for helping me get my priorities right. I could have been waiting a long time for a 500mm lens instead.

You might also consider going to New Guinea. There very few pictures of the Birds of Paradise and none of them are really well done, there is less than 100 pictures on the web to give you an idea!


Just a thought,


John.

Phenomenal!! Absolutely beautiful place and yourphotos captured the beauty well!! I do not know if I am more envious of the trip you took or the gear you took with you!


Denise

Andy that

Jonathan, thanks for the report and photos! It

Yes, that would be a reasonable budget because you also have to factor in the money you will no doubt be spending on camera equipment in advance..! That nice long lens or second camera body (or laptop, or tripod) that has been on the wish list for quite a while suddenly becomes easy to justify when you

Very nice photos Jon....I really enjoyed the rainforest photos, but swimming at sunset....not too sure about that one.

I know, eh! Totally insane. One evening, we paddled out on the pond in canoes. As we shone flashlights over the water, we could see several pairs of shiny eyes looking back at us from the surface. Still, I didn

Yeah Jon....positively in a very,very small group of Canadians w/that bragging right. Bet you didn

Wow Jon..


Just looked at each of your pictures on your picasa site. Question: did you ever get the pic of the bird on your lens? That

Jon,


This may sound like a really dumb question, keep in mind though my previous camera was a disposable. Ha! You said you " were glad to have the big aperture when we were in the jungle, where the available light is much lower." If you only had an F/4 or F4-5.6 would it have made you miss out on the shot all together?


I am just starting out and shopping for a longer reach than my 24-105 and your statement has me wondering if I should wait a bit longer and put some more $ together for a 2.8 instead of a F/4 with reach.


naturac

Rocco, thanks very much. I

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer

Andy that's awesome... great decision! I think that June is going to be a great month in the Galapagos. You'll get to see the waved albatross, which are only now starting to arrive for nesting season. Can't wait to see your photos.

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I know it's been a long wait, but I'm back from the Galapagos islands. It's a truly amazing place with some unique wildlife that shows no fear of humans, like this Galapagos Sea Lion on Espanola island.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/...3a913fd9_b.jpg
1D Mark IV, EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM @ 24mm, f/8, 1/320s, ISO 100

The blue-footed boobies were dancing to attract mates, and a waved albatross was nesting nearby:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6007/...f0ec750f_z.jpg
1D Mark IV, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 100mm, f/11, 1/160s, ISO 100


I think they make a lovely couple:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6011/...ce4b92d8_b.jpg
1D Mark IV, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM @ 220mm, f/9, 1/250s, ISO 100

Thanks for looking!

That's fantastic Andy --- thanks for posting! Española Island is easily one of the most amazing places on Earth. I hope the rest of your trip was equally rewarding. Please post a link if you have more pictures elsewhere.


By the way here is that photo I got from someone else on our trip, of the Galapagos Flycatcher coming up to inspect my lens:


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/15/5148.Ecuador-159.jpg[/img]

Update: I just found the rest of your shots on your Flickr page ---- terrific! Thanks again.

Great pics Andy...[Y]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonathan Huyer

Please post a link if you have more pictures elsewhere

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I know you've found it, Jonathan, but for anyone else who wants to see more, my Galapagos gallery is here. I'm adding more as I get time, including some underwater shots taken with the G12.

By the way, it looks like that flycatcher wants to use your lens hood as a nest box.