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A few from Costa Rica

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Zeee said:
MarshallG said:
Great shots!

How far away were you when you used the Beamer? Did the animals run off when the flash fired?
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Around between 10 and 30 ft. No. Not one seemed disturbed by it.
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I'm curious, then, why did you use the Beamer contraption? A 600 EX flash can easily reach 30 feet. Is it because you only wanted to illuminate the center, or reduce battery use, or something else?

I'm not trying to criticize, I just want to understand better.
 
Thank Zee,

We spend 3 days/2 nights at Arenal; 2 nights in Monteverde; and 3 nights at Jaco Beach. The besides beaches, hiking and the Cloud Forest, it includes riverboat trips, horseback tour, half a day on ATVs, Mangrove Safari to see the crocs, zipling, Catamaran tour/snorkeling and some other stuff.

Wondering what you used to protect your 7DII and 100-400II from the rain in the rain forest?
 
Buchanan said:
Thank Zee,

We spend 3 days/2 nights at Arenal; 2 nights in Monteverde; and 3 nights at Jaco Beach. The besides beaches, hiking and the Cloud Forest, it includes riverboat trips, horseback tour, half a day on ATVs, Mangrove Safari to see the crocs, zipling, Catamaran tour/snorkeling and some other stuff.

Wondering what you used to protect your 7DII and 100-400II from the rain in the rain forest?
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They sell huge rain ponchos for about $10 I think at Monteverde and my gear fit under it nicely. We did get caught in a downpour for a few minutes at Arenal. I just slipped my built in camera bag cover one the bag and found shelter.
 
MarshallG said:
MarshallG said:
MarshallG said:
Great shots!

How far away were you when you used the Beamer? Did the animals run off when the flash fired?
Click to expand...
Around between 10 and 30 ft. No. Not one seemed disturbed by it.
Click to expand...
I'm curious, then, why did you use the Beamer contraption? A 600 EX flash can easily reach 30 feet. Is it because you only wanted to illuminate the center, or reduce battery use, or something else?

I'm not trying to criticize, I just want to understand better.
Click to expand...
Don't worry about that. Good point. I actually don't really have an answer. You are right, the 600 will throw a long distance which should have worked. I does concentrate the light towards the subject and that was the main reason I used it. Again that may not matter either since it is just physics. At that distance the light will still spread more than the frame anyway. I may have used less power but if not maxed out it wouldn't have made a lot of difference.

Someone at Fred Miranda suggested this to another person going to CR and since I had one I took it. I don't use it very often. There weren't any long lenses listed but person said canopies which are high. Some of the river shots were 50 to 60 ft but most were about 30. This one was about 60.

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This one maybe 100 ft and backlit.

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I know the warnings about not pointing in in the direction of the sun are true. As the gear was resting on my lap I thought I got stung on the back of my hand. It was a small focused beam of light from the beamer. No burn damaged, just an ouchy.
 
CR is a great place; I had the privilege of living there half time for about a year recently. But before I took any cameras I got them completely insured against theft or damage. The amount of casual property crime is pretty significant. So don't leave camera bags in sight (lock them in the trunk or out of sight in your cabin). People have been known to reach in your car window in traffic and yank your laptop, phone, or camera.

Think I'm exaggerating? I asked a co-worker in San Jose how many times he had been mugged--the answer: 3. His boss walked in; I asked the same questions--he had been mugged 11 times. Another co-worker was shot years go in an attempted robbery of his motorcycle.

It's l beautiful country but don't be foolish and you'll have a great trip.
 
I am definitely a big fan of Costa Rica and have been doing trips there pretty much every year for the past eight years. My primary interest is in birds so I always bring a telephoto lens as my primary (500mm f/4). I have been to all of the places that you mentioned and have really enjoyed them all immensely. In addition to the telephoto lens I bring a 18-135mm lens for scenery, people… I typically try to travel light.

For rain protection I pack a few trash sacks and always carry one in my back pocket in case it starts raining. So far it has rained on my every single time I have visited Monteverde and almost every time I have visited Arenal. I also always carry a poncho with me.

Best of luck, I am sure you will really enjoy your trip, March is a fantastic time to visit. Here are a couple of shots from my most recent trip last October which was a week long. All of which were taken with a 70D and EF 500mm f/4L IS USM hand-held. The amount of beautiful scenery and wildlife really staggers the mind.



Keel-billed Motmot

Keel-billed Motmot



Flame-colored Tanager

Flame-colored Tanager



Snail Kite

Snail Kite



Crimson-collared Tanager

Crimson-collared Tanager



Golden-hooded Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager



Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler



Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Black-cheeked Woodpecker



Resplendent Quetzal

Resplendent Quetzal



Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Fiery-throated Hummingbird



Red-legged Honeycreeper

Red-legged Honeycreeper



Streak-crowned Woodcreeper

Streak-crowned Woodcreeper



Black-mandibled Toucan

Black-mandibled Toucan



Ocellated Antbird

Ocellated Antbird



Green-and-rufous Kingfisher

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher



Mantled Howler

Mantled Howler



Semiplumbeous Hawk

Semiplumbeous Hawk



Bay Wren

Bay Wren



Barred Antshrike

Barred Antshrike
 
Great info and fantastic pics BirdShooter 7; thanks a bunch. Your shots have me even more excited about the trip and can't wait till wife comes home from work to show them to her.

Guess my kit for the trip will be 70D w/ 100-400, SL1 w/ 18-135 STM, and the little S95. May also throw in the tiny 24 STM pancake as creates such a small package with the SL1 and can serve almost like a lens cap for it if I want to move the 18-135 STM to the 70D for video.
 
Buchanan said:
Great info and fantastic pics BirdShooter 7; thanks a bunch. Your shots have me even more excited about the trip and can't wait till wife comes home from work to show them to her.

Guess my kit for the trip will be 70D w/ 100-400, SL1 w/ 18-135 STM, and the little S95. May also throw in the tiny 24 STM pancake as creates such a small package with the SL1 and can serve almost like a lens cap for it if I want to move the 18-135 STM to the 70D for video.
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I hope you can find more birds than I did. It was tough touring and with 5 non photographers. I did not get a lot of time to look for them.
 
Would love to be lucky enough to get subjects like both yours and Birdshooters. However, am not experienced in wildlife or birds and will be traveling with wife and a pair of teenage girls who have no interest in photography. Will just hope for the best.
 
Buchanan said:
Would love to be lucky enough to get subjects like both yours and Birdshooters. However, am not experienced in wildlife or birds and will be traveling with wife and a pair of teenage girls who have no interest in photography. Will just hope for the best.
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Yeah. Birding takes time and patience but you will fins some.
 
I've got to say... you really took a lot of fantastic photos on that trip. If I came back with two, I'd be jumping up and down, but you have a whole portfolio of great photos. I think you did a fantastic job.
 
MarshallG said:
I've got to say... you really took a lot of fantastic photos on that trip. If I came back with two, I'd be jumping up and down, but you have a whole portfolio of great photos. I think you did a fantastic job.
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Thanks. It helps when you have a bunch of wildlife around.
 
Just before my last CR trip I purchased the 24mm f/2.8 STM and was very glad I brought it along. I pretty much used it for all of my scenery shots and always had it with me. I would definitely bring it along.

It is definitely a challenge to do bird photography with non-birders but hopefully you will have some opportunities. Monteverde has some great hummingbird feeders that I always enjoy.

It is amazing how many birds are around in Costa Rica. One of my favorite things to do there is to go outside just before sunrise and listen to the dawn chorus. Sometimes you even get to see some really nice birds and other wildlife.

Greg
 
BirdShooter7 said:
Just before my last CR trip I purchased the 24mm f/2.8 STM and was very glad I brought it along. I pretty much used it for all of my scenery shots and always had it with me. I would definitely bring it along.

It is definitely a challenge to do bird photography with non-birders but hopefully you will have some opportunities. Monteverde has some great hummingbird feeders that I always enjoy.

It is amazing how many birds are around in Costa Rica. One of my favorite things to do there is to go outside just before sunrise and listen to the dawn chorus. Sometimes you even get to see some really nice birds and other wildlife.

Greg
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My wife had 4 hummies on her fingers feeding at one point. We had to drag her away from that area.
 
Another I like. About 25ft away from our condo balcony which was on the second story.

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Zee

excellent pictures very intensive

Great thanks
 
Very beautiful photos! Appreciate you sharing them.
 
Nice shots. Thanks for showing.
 
Hi Greg,

You HANDHELD these glorious shots? I became an instant fan! :-)

I'm off to Costa Rica for the first time the first week of April. I would love some advice for getting the most out of my equipment (see below). A few questions--did you use a flash, a better beamer?

Any advice for getting photos anywhere near as good as these would be much appreciated. I know I have less reach and a slower lens, so I will struggle, but if you have some tips!

Joan
 
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