Trip Posts

Wildlife photography can require great hardship on the part of the photographer; days of trekking, battling the elements, biting insects, etc. — all while carrying 20 kilos of camera gear.

This was not the case for my recent trip to Costa Rica, which was as close to luxury you can get in the Rainforest, if you don't mind the lack of air-conditioning and occasional oversize bug in your cabin.

My girlfriend and I stayed in El Romanso, an eco-lodge on the Osa Peninsula. Located in primary rainforest overlooking the Pacific ocean, it is an beautiful place, abundant with wildlife. Most of which I photographed from the lodge restaurant, which had been constructed on stilts to put you at eye level with monkeys and toucans. continue reading…

In addition to Orangutans, my Indonesia trip was to photograph Komodo dragons. These are absolutely remarkable animals, and as close to a living dinosaur you can see today.

As excited as I was to see these animals, the experience was a little disappointing. The rangers lead us around a short trek through the forrest before returning to the beach where there a dragon was basking. It was all clearly staged.

Komodo Dragons are actually venomous, contrary to the popular belief that their bites kill with toxic bacteria in their mouths.

This was a juvenile dragon. We saw it meandering through the forrest, occasionally chewing on dry bones, trying to find sustenance. The urge to hug him, and squeeze him, and call him George was strong! continue reading…

My first wildlife trip this year was to Indonesia to shoot orangutans and Komodo dragons. This post is about the former, I'll save the dragons for another post.

These photos were taken in Bukit Lawang, North Sumatra, which has a sanctuary for Sumatran Orangutans (there is another species in Borneo). They offer guided treks to see the animals, which are mostly rescue animals that have been re-introduced to the wild.

I think this is my favourite shot of the trip. It seems almost posed. continue reading…

This year I spent my birthday in a Forest in Finland with no company other than about dozen (wild)! Eurasian brown bears and more mosquitoes that I care to count.

I stayed at Martinselkosen wilderness centre, in the North of the country. Comfortable enough, plenty of rustic food, and surprisingly decent coffee.

After a night in the Wilderness centre we were to stay in the Forest hide, which is regularly visited by a dozen or so bears and cubs. On the way to the hide, one of the other photographers suggested that my 500mm lens was too long. She was right, the large communal hide was directly in front of a clearing where food was left to attract the bears . At times the bears were so close all I could shoot was a patch of blurry fur. continue reading…