Last weekend I had a great time strolling through Colchester with my dear friend Zuzana. While I'd be perfectly happy to walk anywhere with Zuz, Colchester proved to be enjoyably diverting. I hadn't really visited this town before and was pleasantly surprised to find so much interesting history. From the largest Roman gateway, The Balkerne Gate, to the largest remaining Victorian water tower in Britain, Colchester had much to offer alongside its famous castle. While we didn't have much time to explore the inside of the castle, we did enjoy ambling through the grounds and park outside. All images shot with the Olympus E-M5 and 12-40mm F/2.8, mostly using the B+W JPEG Filter on-camera which I felt would convey the sense of history more effectively.
Probably Panama's most famous venue and certainly a fascinating monument to a truly incredible feat of human endeavour and engineering. To build a gash into the Earth so that freight could traverse between its two biggest oceans is an extraordinary task to contemplate even now, over a century after it was conceived of and started. The story of its construction and completion is a worthwhile study and one that can be found in detail elsewhere.Photographically, I didn't find much to snap at, although perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough; perhaps I was somewhat jaded after the amazing wildlife in Costa Rica; or perhaps I was preoccupied with watching a giant container ship pass through the canal. In any event, here are a few shots from around the canal and within its exhibition centre. Nothing short of being there and witnessing it oneself, however, will do justice to this tremendous achievement.
In the Old Town of Panama City even the shade offered by the narrow, claustrophobic alleys and streets couldn't stop the blistering heat from exhausting us and thus we only spent a short time here. A pretty and quaint part of town, the slender and colourful streets occasionally opened into a plaza presided over by a large church. I eked out what few shots I could during our fleeting visit here.All shot on the E-M5 with the Olympus 12-40mm F/2.8
While perhaps something of an anticlimax after the wonderful nature of Costa Rica, a short visit to Panama City still had points of interests beyond its own forest of concrete and glass. Sometimes dubbed 'The Dubai of Central America' due to its seemingly endless beachfront skyline of high rises, the city offers a few essential places to see. Highlights were the Panama Canal and the old town of Casco Viejo, each of which I will present in a separate post. We even managed to hike to the Metropolitan National Parque on the edge of the city and during our short time there we saw some turtles, a sloth and some beautiful birds. Presented here is a snapshot of the city, demonstrating the ubiquity of its tall buildings by day and night but also some of its colour and charm.All shot with the Olympus E-M5.
While immersed the exotic diversity of its incredible wildlife one facet of Costa Rica which I didn't really get to exploit enough was its beautiful landscapes. We often had tremendous views over mountains ranges and forested hills descending towards the distant ocean, but a lack of time and inconvenient timing meant I was not able to capture these scenes in the best light. Furthermore, many of these shots were taken on the fly during a commute from one place to another, or on a boat in the Pacific Ocean. They represent views from the mountains around La Fortuna, Monteverde, the Arenal Lake and the Pacific Ocean. I would love to have stopped on occasion to capture the vivid rainbow nestled in a dusty valley, but while bouncing along a rocky road by the edge of a cliff the practicality of such an endeavour is offset by other concerns occupying one's mind!These shots were taken with the Olympus E-M5 and either the 12-40mm F/2.8 or the 40-150mm F/2.8. Costa Rica was a truly amazing place to visit and it was a genuine privilege to sample even a glimpse of its extraordinary treasures. My time spent here only reinforces my appreciation for the wealth of nature this planet generously offers us and the urgency with which we must galvanise our collective efforts to protect and preserve it.
These guys were literally everywhere in Costa Rica, outside our accommodation, outside cafes (where the proprietors would leave them food), in trees along the river and by the side of the road. The locals were pretty indifferent to them, probably being used as to them as they were to humans, by I found them wonderfully photogenic. Everything from their scales to their eyes were stunning, and probably as close to a living dinosaur as I'm likely to get.All shot with the E-M5, with either one of the Olympus 40-150mm F/2.8, 12-40mm F/2.8 or 60mm F/2.8 mounted on it.
These little guys were worth a study. During a boat ride through a mangrove swamp in Costa Rica we ran into quite a lot of capuchin monkeys. Incredibly anthropomorphic, clearly intelligent and highly curious, they were a fascinating subject. Playful and social primates, they were exceptionally adapted to their arboreal home. Fun to watch.All images shot with the Olympus 40-150mm F/2.8 + MC-14 teleconverter mounted on the E-M5.
Not so much a dedicated garden as a communal area for hummingbirds to feed. The last time I photographed hummingbirds was with my dear friend Lisa in California and it was one of the most amazingly peaceful experiences I've ever had. Alas, Lisa was not with me on this occasion in Costa Rica but I wanted to enjoy seeing and photographing them again so that I could share some of the resulting images with her, both as a reminder and a tribute to our previous experience. So, while almost everyone else went off to do some zip-lining or some such tomfoolery, I lost myself in the solace and serenity of this small enclave where hummingbirds of all colours and sizes buzzed around me. Paradoxically, their speed and hum only emphasised the otherwise silent tranquility of the garden. Capturing them was an almost impossible feat, however, especially hand-held with a contrast-detection AF system. They were so fast that by the time my eyes told my brain to send an impulse to my finger to hit the shutter they had disappeared. I resorted to manually focusing on a spot where they would frequently fly and hit the shutter when they came into focus. Even so, success was as much down to luck as tactics and required ramping up the ISO to have an effective shutter speed.Perhaps the challenge made the results more rewarding and the experience more enjoyable. I have no regrets about forgoing the zipline to see these beautiful birds, although I must admit my previous attempt at capturing them with Lisa delivered better images. All the images below were captured with the Olympus 40-150mm F/2.8 and MC-14 teleconverter.
Navigating through the moisture and the mist one cannot help but be in awe of the scale and density of this cloud rainforest in Monteverde. The thick, dendritic canopy distills any light seeping through the tropical clouds above, and from the carpet of vegetation at our feet to the giant trunks soaring up over us the forest completely interns its willing visitors, thrilling our senses with the sound and calls of countless species. The forest is a vital part of the ecosystem in Costa Rica, providing a safe haven for elusive ocelot, pumas and hawks as well as a nursery for innumerable plant species. It was a tremendous privilege to be able to trek through it and become wrapped up within the flourishing blanket of life that it nurtures.Hopefully the images below help convey the depth, variety and vibrance of life within this incredible environment. All images shot with either the Olympus 12-40mm F/2.8 or the 40-150mm F/2.8.
The most unsettling aspect of walking through a Costa Rican jungle forest at night is knowing that the entire place is alive around you even though you cannot see it slithering and crawling through the blackness. Having a light shone on a snake right behind you that you were blissfully unaware of brings an entirely new dimension to an already eerie escapade. We found all manner of nocturnal residents, from toucans to tarantulas, but the highlight for me was the sloth and her baby feeding high up in the tree canopy. The images below were the main features of our walk, as it was often difficult to capture or focus on some of the species in the darkness, most of whom were pretty well hidden anyway.All the shots below taken with the Olympus 40-150mm F/2.8 and MC-14 attached.
Behind our accommodation in the small town of La Fortuna was a small woodland with a stream so I naturally investigated it for signs of life. Found a kingfisher, a vulture and a variety of insects, but none so enthralled me as much these beautiful damselflies. Capturing them was a trifle tasking, with the low light, long focal length, absent tripod and slow shutter speeds even at high ISOs all working against me. But perseverance always pays off in the end and I managed to eke out one or two pleasing shots.These were taken with the Olympus 40-150mm F/2.8 + MC-14 teleconverter, and the close-ups were shot with the Olympus 60mm F/2.8 macro. All mostly at ISO 1600.
The Black River near the Nicaraguan border is a haven for a kaleidoscope of wildlife. Everything from the Jesus Christ lizard to blue herons, anhingas, caimans, egrets, kingfishers, howlers monkeys and even bats frequent this oasis of life. I had a great time bearing witness to such an incredible variety of species.Shooting it was a little tricky, especially from a rocking boat with contrast detection AF. Subject isolation was difficult with so much foliage background too. But the old kit still captured a few keepers. All of these were shot with the Olympus 40-150mm F/2.8 with MC-14 teleconverter attached and all mounted on the E-M5.
Better ice up a cold one. It's hot out here.But the heat is the least remarkable characteristic of Costa Rica, paling into an afterthought behind its truly exquisite flora and fauna. A natural wonderland of incredible wildlife, from sloths to toucans, monkeys and iguanas, its inhabitants thrive in mangroves, lakes and under a lush rainforest canopy shrouded in cloud and mist.A tropical paradise with no less than seven active volcanoes, Costa Rica manages to squeeze in around 5% of the planet's biodiversity on a mere 0.03% of its total land mass. With over 850 species of birds, 1000 species of butterfly, 9000 species of plants and 34,000 species of insects there is little excuse not to be enthralled by its vitality. Even more so as the country has dedicated over 25% of its area to national parks and wildlife refuges. With over 100 protected areas, Costa Rica is emerging from its past of deforestation and threatened inhabitants to now exemplify conservation and set a standard for others to follow.Starting our journey in the capital city San Jose, we journeyed up to La Fortuna, crossed the Arenal Lake and ascended the clouded peaks of Monteverde, and then down to the renowned national park at Manuel Antonio. We were a fixated audience to the aforementioned sloths and monkeys as well as hummingbirds, snakes and a toucan or two. We enjoyed some samples at a coffee plantation and dined relentlessly on rice and beans (never had so many carbs in my life!), pina coladas and no end of meat and fish. A dip in the Pacific Ocean was both a refreshing respite from the heat and a prelude to leaping dolphins during a stunning sunset. Marry all of the above to the company of terrific people who, much like some of our capuchin hosts, were playful, pastoral and funny, and one might just understand how rewarding an experience my visit to this beautiful country was. We were all grateful to the friendly and kind people of Costa Rica for helping us to amass so many wonderful memories.Please indulge in the small appetiser of images below. Rest assured that more posts will follow in the coming days.
So my first shots of 2016 were taken at the ever-reliable RAF Museum, as good a venue as any to take friends while sheltering from the inclement weather outside. Of course, I had been here several times before and shot its exhibits with both my camera and my phone. This time I composed for shapes and form, as well as for the exhibits directly, and processed the images to have a vintage look in keeping with the historical context.As always, the museum is a great place to appreciate military aviation history and with its vast scale and superb exhibits there are plenty of photographic opportunities too. All the images were shot with the Olympus E-M5 and 12-40mm F/2.8 at ISOs between 1250 and 2000.
It flies by so fast now it’s in danger of becoming a blur. I’m here writing about 2015 so soon after 2014 it’s almost as if I was simply transported to the future. The faster the years go by the harder I find it to reflect but as I still retain some semblance of cognitive function I'll give it a shot. It was a year during which I was fortunate to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in several continents and countries, including my dear home, the United Kingdom. I literally felt the rush of water over me at Iguacu Falls, enjoyed samba in Montevideo, vivid colour at La Boca in Buenos Aires, and had breakfast with marmosets in Paraty. I sank my feet into silky sand towards the crystal clear waters of Ilha Grande before being carried back to shore on the refreshing surf. I marveled at Sugar Loaf Mountain from Christ The Redeemer and I have a lovely scar on my forearm from a fall in Rio's favelas.I enjoyed an amazing road trip through Yorkshire, taking in more beautiful waterfalls and canals before capturing marvels of engineering at the Ribblehead Viaduct and the National Railway Museum.After more articles for Photography Life, I met its founder Nasim and some of his team in Colorado, mesmerised by canyons, mountains and the Milky Way. It was a great introduction to autumn with fresh mountain air, deep colours and fascinating nature. Towards the end of the year I kept a promise and accepted an invitation to Bangladesh, a fertile and frantic country desperately racing ahead in its development. Perhaps fewer excursions this year but I started with some animal portraits and visited Cambridge again, no less impressed by its wondrous architecture. In the summer I watched some crazy stunts and spent a few days among dear friends in Wales, enjoying a beautiful garden and a magnificent castle.I returned to the east coast to see the seals on the beach and stepped back in time to drive a 1980s icon. Some vivid seasonal colours at Winkworth again after some beautiful vistas over the Ashridge Estate and then the company of deer on a misty morning. And for a couple of times in the year the glimmering lights of London gave me some reliable shutter therapy.Perhaps my favourite accomplishment in the past year was shedding 10kg (22lb) from my frame and adding some lean muscle to take its place (actually, it really isn’t that difficult!). I can’t thank my good friend Brubaker enough for his constant support, encouragement and humour, and for fixing anything that needed to be fixed! His own transformation was more impressive still.My second children’s book was published, a sequel to the first, and I started fleshing out ideas for a new book.I end this year fitter, stronger and ever more grateful for the experiences, opportunities and exploits, both photographic or otherwise. I am grateful for my friendships and the joy, wisdom and kindness with which they have enriched me. As the world seemingly becomes more insecure and fearful I hope in some small way I can still impress my reverence and gratitude for life upon it.So I go into the New Year, which will undoubtedly race by as quickly as this one, hoping my photography will be even more judicious, rewarding and enjoyable. And whatever it brings I am always grateful to be alive and clicking.I wish you a Happy New Year and every success in all your endeavours. Thank you for visiting Alpha Whiskey Photography.
No comments yet...
All fields are required, fill in the form.
Comment successfully added.
Comment