 MASTER OF STILLNESS.
I was driving my car on the way home from a successful photo day at the Macanas wetlands in Panama. It was dark, and my friend Ole Bjørn Engen was with me. Far in the distance we saw a reflection in an eye. First we thought it was a rabbit or a nightjar. They are often seen roadside at nighttime. But as we got closer we saw something else. Ole Bjørn shouted “It’s a Cayman!” I stopped the car about 10 meters from the Cayman, and we hurried to find our big lenses and tripods. The car lights lighted up the Cayman, and we started shooting. I shot this image at ISO 200, f/8 and with 1-second exposure. I used my 600mm lens. Even though the shutterspeed was long, the image is tack sharp. The Cayman didn’t move a millimeter. The Cayman is a master of stillness. We nature photographers have something to learn from them. It has infinite patience, and good hunting and survival skills. The photo day is not over before you are at home in your bed. Always be prepared, and have your camera ready. Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  On our photo tour to the cloud forest we are in the highlands of the western part of Panama. The tour starts on March 27 and ends on April 5.
The image shows the highest mountain in Panama, Volcan Baru, 3475 m. The climate is more fresh here than in the lower parts of Panama. We will stay in cabins at 2400 m, surrounded by lush cloudforest with many beautiful birds and other wildlife. Read more about the tour in the Tour Program. Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  One of the most colourful and beautiful birds in Panama is the Keel-billed toucan, Ramphastos sulfuratus. Early in the morning in the rainforest I often hear the froglike sound krre-ek krre-ek krre-ek. The sound awakens my instincts, and when I hear the sound I know I am in the rainforest. It is a good feeling.
Sometimes they come close in for a good photograph. I took this shot through an opening in the rainforest with my 600mm lens. It posed a few minutes before it took off into the wilderness. We very often see the toucan on our rainforest tours (8 days and 13 days tours). Check out the tours in the photo tour program. Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  A new day with new photo opportunities!
On our rainforest tours (8 days and 13 days) we use a boat several days to explore and get closer to the wildlife. Our groups are always small to provide every participant with good photographic opportunities. Read more about the photo tours in the tour program! Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  On our cloudforest tour, March 27 to April 5, 2019, you can see the large leaves at the forest floor in La Amistad national park.
On the tour we stay in comfortable cabins at 2400 m. The climate is more fresh and cool than in the lower parts of Panama. Read more about the tour in the tour program! Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  The northern tamandua anteater is one of the animals in the Panama rainforest. I photographed this one a few years ago in the rainforest. It appeared out of nothing, climbing slowly down from a tree.
I was ready with my 600mm lens, and I got this shot before it diseappeared into the dense rainforest again. This is what I like about the rainforests of Panama. You never know what you get, but you will get many various photographic possibilities. Read more about our rainforest tours in the Tour Program! Hoping to see you! Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  The purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, is a common bird in marshes and at the edges of lakes and rivers in Panama.
One mistake photographers often make is not to photograph common wildlife. Photographically there is a lot to gain on working with common wildlife. You can photograph this bird on our rainforest tours (13 days and 8 days tours). The purple gallinule has amazing colours! Read more about the tours in the Tour Program. Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  The leaf-cutter ants are worth a study. You can photograph these creatures on our rainforest tours in Panama (13 days and 8 days tours).
Bring your macro lens and come! The leaf-cutter ants bite off parts of the leaves, and then they carry it back to their house down in the ground, where the leaves convert into fungi, and the queen and the others can feed on it. Read more about the rainforest tours in the Tour Program! Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  Here is a juvenile snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis, and I photographed it at close range when it took off from a branch.
On our rainforest tours (13 days and 8 days tours) we photograph this beautiful bird from the boat in a specific area. The snail kite is feeding on apple snails in marshlands and lakes with floating vegetation. The curved bill makes it possible for them to access the snails inside their houses. Read more about the rainforest tours in the Tour program. Best regards Øyvind Martinsen  The Violet Sabrewing, Campylopterus hemileucurus, is one of the hummingbirds you can photograph on our cloud forest tour, March 27 - April 5, 2019.
Panama has 59 different hummingbirds, and the Violet Sabrewing is one of them. The bird is around 15 cm long, and it has this glittering violet plumage. Beautiful! The Violet Sabrewing can normally be seen in foothills and highlands from 900m up to 1650 m. This image is taken at 2400 m, close to the cabins we use on the tour. Read more about the tour in the Tour Program! Best regards Øyvind Martinsen |
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