We are going to be in Costa Rica in February. We will be in the areas of Manuel Antonion National Park and Arenal. The only type of photography I HAVEN'T done is nature photography. I am using a Nikon D200 and have the following lenses - 18-200MM DX - 12-24 mm DX - 50mm normal lens - and an old 70-300 G type lens.
I would appreciate anyone (especially someone who has been to or knows Costa Rica)who could tell me (1)If the 200 mm zoom is long enough or fast enough. I am not sure of the lighting conditions inside a rain forest. (2) If not what would I need ? (3) Is a standard flash unit a good or bad idea? (4) Is a tripod a good or bad idea (since they weigh a ton)(5) Anything you want to tell me. My objectives with the limited knowledge I possess is birds and fauna - since that seems to be all that's there.
Well, I've never been to Costa Rica, but a friend of mine called Olivier Crete (email: tester at tester dot ca) just returned last night from a vacation there. Here are his suggestions:
I was in Arenal and Manuel Antonio just last week. In the rain forest, most of the interesting things are in the trees, so you need a good zoom. A flash is pretty useless, because they are really tall trees. And you still have good lighting (unless obviously you want to see the night life.. which I've heard is interesting, but I haven't looked myself). In the Arenal area, well you have the volcano, to get good looking pictures of it you need a day where its not cloudy (the hard part) and a relatively long exposure (at night). We got good results with 15 secs with a point and shoot canon. Most guides carry a telescope on a tripod, so a tripod can be useful I think. If you want to see animals, get a guide, they will know where to find them. But I'm not a photography expert, just a tourist ;)
I have been to Costa Rica a number of times and lead photo tours there so I feel I can answer your questions. First a good tripod is needed as the light in the forests is quite low and long exposures are the norm. A flash is also important especially with wildlife but to fill flash landscape forground elements and any macro. One of my favorite images from Costa Rica was a 30 minute exposure of Arenal taken at night showing the piroclastic flows. Getting a clear view of the mountain is just a matter of luck. Warning Costa Rica can be adicting. Have a great trip.
Posted by Jason Kim on December 21, 2006 at 12:43 PM
Hi Bill,
I've been to Costa Rica a few times, Manuel Antonio once. That is a great park for wildlife viewing and photography. Definitely get a tour guide, which you can hire at the park entrance. You'll see much more wildlife that way. When I was there, I used a Digital Rebel and 300 mm IS USM lens in the jungle. I didn't bring a tripod, but it might have been useful to have one along. Alternatively, a monopod/trekking pole would probably work well. Shots of monkeys, sloths, iguanas, etc. all came out decent at 300 mm, but you might want for a little more length if you use your 200. A macro lens would be cool for all the weird bugs they have out there. I didn't have a flash other than the one mounted on the camera. If you want to get any good shots of birds, I think you'll definitely want a longer/faster lens.
Here are a bunch of pictures from my trip, almost all the wildlife shots are from Manuel:
Let me know if you have any other specific questions and maybe I can help.
Jason
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on December 21, 2006 at 5:02 PM
Manuel Antonio and Arenal are my two favorite areas in Costa Rica. Here are my thoughts:
Flash is a must. Much of the wildlife is up in trees and you will be dealing with very bright sky backgrounds. Flash is the only way you can balance this out, otherwise you will end up with a lot of silhouettes. Bring the brightest one you have, and a Better Beamer if you have one.
I think you will find 200 too short. I left my 600 at home, and was able to get by with a 100-400, but even that was a little short.
I lugged along a heavy tripod and was glad I did. I can’t imagine shooting without it. If you get lava activity at night in Arenal, you will really be glad you have it. The rainforest is dark, you will want it for landscapes as well.
Definitely hire a guide at Manuel Antonio National Park. They will show you stuff you will never find on your own. I hired a guide with a vehicle in Arenal, and that worked out great as well. I can dig up his name if you are interested, he was really good. In both locations I found a lots of wildlife near our hotels.
Be sure to go to the hot springs at Tabacon, a wonderful place. I have photos of both locations on our website if you want a preview. You are going to have a great time.
Posted by Don Grall on January 18, 2007 at 3:06 PM
It all depends on your expectations! Do you want tourist snapshots for a photo album or shots you can hang on a wall. If this is your first and maybe only time you will be doing the "nature" thing, you might try and rent a longer Nikon VR style zoom lens. If this is the first of many future nature shoots, at least get a good flash. A Better Beamer attachment would be the next upgrade if you have a lens of 300mm and beyond- shorter lenses will reveal a sharp cut-off of light within the frame)
I totally agree that flash is mandatory for quality shots in the forests of M.A. and a tripod will be mandatory if you get a clear night for lava rocks tumbling down the side of Arenal. I used a 500f4IS on a 1DMkII (1.3 conversion factor) for birds,monkeys,etc and sometimes wished I had brought my 600f4. Although you can get quite close to some animals and birds, having the longer glass gives you a lot more opportunities for quality shots. I also carried a 70-200f2.8 and a 300f4IS for the few times the monkeys got really close. Fill flash was used with a Better Beamer on a 550EX flash and was invaluable for eliminating that silhouette look. You can see my images here (3 pages)
www.freshairphotos.com/crtn.html
for examples of why the flash/Better Beamer combo is necessary (it was used on all the wildlife shots except the distant shots of flying Macaws).
Have a great trip, the people are very friendly and the scenery and wildlife are spectacular ! I wish I could afford to go there every year.
Discussion
5 repliesI would appreciate anyone (especially someone who has been to or knows Costa Rica)who could tell me (1)If the 200 mm zoom is long enough or fast enough. I am not sure of the lighting conditions inside a rain forest. (2) If not what would I need ? (3) Is a standard flash unit a good or bad idea? (4) Is a tripod a good or bad idea (since they weigh a ton)(5) Anything you want to tell me. My objectives with the limited knowledge I possess is birds and fauna - since that seems to be all that's there.
Any help would be sincerely appreciated
Bill Ginsburg
I've been to Costa Rica a few times, Manuel Antonio once. That is a great park for wildlife viewing and photography. Definitely get a tour guide, which you can hire at the park entrance. You'll see much more wildlife that way. When I was there, I used a Digital Rebel and 300 mm IS USM lens in the jungle. I didn't bring a tripod, but it might have been useful to have one along. Alternatively, a monopod/trekking pole would probably work well. Shots of monkeys, sloths, iguanas, etc. all came out decent at 300 mm, but you might want for a little more length if you use your 200. A macro lens would be cool for all the weird bugs they have out there. I didn't have a flash other than the one mounted on the camera. If you want to get any good shots of birds, I think you'll definitely want a longer/faster lens.
Here are a bunch of pictures from my trip, almost all the wildlife shots are from Manuel:
http://www.wildernessinnovations.com/Images/Costa%20Rica%2004/Destination/index.htm
Let me know if you have any other specific questions and maybe I can help.
Jason
Flash is a must. Much of the wildlife is up in trees and you will be dealing with very bright sky backgrounds. Flash is the only way you can balance this out, otherwise you will end up with a lot of silhouettes. Bring the brightest one you have, and a Better Beamer if you have one.
I think you will find 200 too short. I left my 600 at home, and was able to get by with a 100-400, but even that was a little short.
I lugged along a heavy tripod and was glad I did. I can’t imagine shooting without it. If you get lava activity at night in Arenal, you will really be glad you have it. The rainforest is dark, you will want it for landscapes as well.
Definitely hire a guide at Manuel Antonio National Park. They will show you stuff you will never find on your own. I hired a guide with a vehicle in Arenal, and that worked out great as well. I can dig up his name if you are interested, he was really good. In both locations I found a lots of wildlife near our hotels.
Be sure to go to the hot springs at Tabacon, a wonderful place. I have photos of both locations on our website if you want a preview. You are going to have a great time.
Here are our Arenal Costa Rica photos and Manuel Antonio photos.
I totally agree that flash is mandatory for quality shots in the forests of M.A. and a tripod will be mandatory if you get a clear night for lava rocks tumbling down the side of Arenal. I used a 500f4IS on a 1DMkII (1.3 conversion factor) for birds,monkeys,etc and sometimes wished I had brought my 600f4. Although you can get quite close to some animals and birds, having the longer glass gives you a lot more opportunities for quality shots. I also carried a 70-200f2.8 and a 300f4IS for the few times the monkeys got really close. Fill flash was used with a Better Beamer on a 550EX flash and was invaluable for eliminating that silhouette look. You can see my images here (3 pages)
www.freshairphotos.com/crtn.html
for examples of why the flash/Better Beamer combo is necessary (it was used on all the wildlife shots except the distant shots of flying Macaws).
Have a great trip, the people are very friendly and the scenery and wildlife are spectacular ! I wish I could afford to go there every year.
Don