Just returned from the adventure of a lifetime, cruise through the wonderful city of Quito, Ecuador and then down the Napo River to the Amazon jungle known as La Selva. Incredible ride, full of sense of adventure and unseen things, for sure for me.
I will never be a wildlife photographer, or a birder, but the distinct colors and life of this deep forest are soulful and inspiring. When you paddle the lagoons, or hike the trails, especially at night, you are acutely aware that you are out of place, and that the creatures around you are connected. innate and earthly knowledge that you will never possess.
We are a team of 26, all hard-hearted, instilled with a sense of adventure and passion to push the camera in pursuit of the photos that await out there in the green and dense world. this most. Just a wonderful collection of generous spirits. It’s a group that bonds in the most wonderful of emotional ways, and laughter and visuals abound.
I did my best with the birds and the monkeys, but with my history, I also gravitate towards the human element of this place, where once again we come across people who stick together for life. with this wonderful land, instead of trying to subjugate it. A big thank you to everyone we met, especially the guides of La Selva, who were unafraid to share their knowledge and whose eyes were like jungle radar.
For me, the trip is also a gift in the sense that I have taught besides the Tamara Lackey. We made a good team, and engaged in some heated but lovable disagreements when it came time to critique. Tamara is a constant source of energy and our entire class benefits not only from her smart photographs, but also from the constant mirrors in her life where she transforms the image. to a good cause for the sake of kids and animals; An extraordinary person I am proud to know.
This workshop was formed almost three years ago. We’ll be traveling in March 2020. The formidable Kim Pollard, on Tamara’s team, sets up a website and already announced workshop, and we’re set to go when everyone has signed up and workshops. has been filled. So much for planning in the age of Covid. Three cancellations and two years later, we finally felt the Amazon wind in our faces.
In the meantime, someone had to pack up the tattered details of the original plan and herd it home. Annie Cahill, my wonderful wife, possesses a deep sense of responsibility and compliance, attention to detail and work ethic that make an Olympic athlete seem like a lazy ball picker. Hundreds of hours of detailed work later, we got to and from mighty Amazon – safely. Remarkable. Annie had to balance the equation of photo opportunity with caution and preparation in these days of the virus. The workshop’s ongoing hashtag quickly became #Annieknows and the grateful class awarded her a medal at the end of the festival.
The photographers on the trip did amazingly well, given the rigors of the environment. “Normal” lenses are typically in the 400mm range, and shooting platforms are often portable. And those long lenses occasionally pick up a hitchhiker or two!
First time for me, teach flash in the forest! And work Z 9 camera, proved to be challenging in the relentless humidity under the sweltering canopy. Combination of Z 9 and new Z mount 100-400mm is the right lens, as it is the perfect combination of accessibility and hand-holding.
Another person first shared my clothes with a member of the trip, Bob. Bob and his wife Nancy are amazingly talented and just great friends to travel with, but Bob’s luggage (and all his jungle clothes) got lost in the commotion. on the way to La Selva. Turns out, we were the same size, so I gave him socks and pants, which he made good use of. In the end, after walking in those pants in the woods for a week, I think, we made the wise decision on both sides that he should keep them. Signed, of course.
An amazing bunch of people helped us on this trip… .. see below.
We draw on the experience and knowledge of the outstanding people at The best tour of Ecuador. Annie is in constant communication with them on Covid protocols and tries to find locations with good ventilation, exclusive reservations, enough space to safely experience… new challenges.
I’ll be on the phone from Annie by 6 a.m. with her new friends at our wonderful Quito base of operations – Hotel Patio Andaluz . Super early is the best time to check in as her main contact and confidant work the night shift. So many details that need to be fitted in a ride that has transformed and changed over the past two and a half years. The staff at Andaluz are excellent. They made our stay in Quito memorable.
Miracle Museo Templo Del Sol This is where we came to meet and see Mr. Ortega Maila, an extremely talented artist whose ability to complete paintings in just a few minutes is amazing. Loved the museum tour and walking around the grounds – lots of paintings do. And the dancers! Color and life are personified.
However, our main goal, aka our mission, has always been to achieve La Selva Jungle Hostel. A quiet place, beautiful people, an inn hidden in a jungle, full of life. Hope to see it again.
And speaking of beauties….
Many thanks to Tamara and Annie… .beauties… ..
More tk….
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