Family Grooming!

Green Crowned Brilliant Family - New hairstyle! - Join me?

So many new dates and programs coming up for the next year., please
click this link and see if anything interests you!

http://raymondbarlowworkshops.blogspot.ca/

Thanks for looking and sharing my images!

Green-crowned Brilliant Females Grooming
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/1600s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1600

Happy Landings!

A Green Violet-ear comes in for a landing on a perch.. while I was not even looking through the viewfinder, I was very lucky to catch the shot! This area was crazy busy with hummingbird activity, so I stayed focused on this branch and waited for the right moment.

Dark rainy conditions warrant a higher iso value on your camera, all the new full frame equipment seems to perform well in low light conditions.

The beauty of natural light shines through your lens, with natural colours, and a realistic view of the scene.

Looking forward to more private group tours to Costa Rica!

Green Violet-Ear Hummingbird Landing
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/1000s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1250

The Wonder of Photography

How is this done?

It's a very long story. July 31st, 2003 my brother Geoff and I traveled to see a great friend - Mark Dionne in Wellfleet, MA, on the Cape. With my boat in tow, we planned on a scuba diving trip, that changed when Mark told me there were humpback whales in the ocean, and we could possibly see them.

Long story short, we had an incredible experience, overwhelming! My Sony point and shoot didn't cut it... so off to my friends camera store, "Camtech" in Hamilton Ontario, to buy my first DSLR. A couple months later, a 70-300mm and I was on my way down the wonderful road of bird and wildlife photography.

That whale experience changed my life. A week later, I met my sweet wife Daisy, and started the photography challenge of a lifetime.

Bird photography is very difficult. I saw Peter Darcy's images of owls on a website, and the spark was aflame! 10+ years exploring this passion, and I am learning all the time. The most important "thing" you gain is an appreciation for the beauty, and fragility of nature.

I personally feel a responsibility to express how important it is for everyone in the world to show respect. Please leave wild animals alone. Do not feed Carnivorous creatures, from owls to crocodiles, they should be left alone and not influenced by human feedings. Bears, wolves, lions, sharks, on and on - they are extremely dangerous, even monkeys.

Acclimatizing these animals and birds puts them and us at tremendous risk. Keep your distance! You cannot pose for a photo beside such birds or animals.

So long as I am sharing images, I will ask folks to listen to these messages, and treat nature with respect. Please share this information with your friends, and your respectful thoughts below if you wish.

best wishes from Canada - Raymond.

ps. please follow this page if you wish!

Green-crowned Brilliant in Flight
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/800s f/4.0 at 300.0mm iso640

Hummingbirds Love the Rain!

This pair of Magnificent hummingbirds enjoyed a meal during a rain shower!

Fortunately, for us photographers, our locations have cover to keep us and our gear dry! For the birds, this is bath time. Working with natural light always seems to be the best possible choice, even on a dark rainy afternoon.

Thanks for viewing and sharing my images here in G+, very much appreciated!


Magnificent Hummingbirds in Flight
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/800s f/4.0 at 210.0mm iso1250

Pure Happiness!

To watch these hummingbirds enjoy a meal is so much fun!

Photographing hummingbirds is a spectacular way of enjoying your day. Each bird has their own special features that we try to capture.

Travel to Costa Rica is easy, and very safe. I meet all my guests at the airport, travel to a very special hotel, then off shooting right away - if we arrive during the day!

The best part of this job is teaching each guest, and helping every photographer improve their skills. Small groups, and lots of shooting can be very rewarding! I never take more then 4 people to Costa Rica.

The colours of this fiery-throated hummingbird are amazing, at a certain light angle, the throat feathers reflect so many nice iridescent tones. No flash is ever used for any of my wildlife photograph... natural light works.

Thanks for looking, more images from my previous tours soon.

Raymond

Fiery-throated Hummingbird in Flight
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/250s f/4.0 at 260.0mm iso500

Sweet Colours in Costa Rica

Enjoying nature is a special time, so much fun to see and photograph.

Sharing these images with you is such a privilege, my last image here on G+ went out to almost 278,000 people! thanks so much to everyone who +'s, comments, and shares! I hope you will enjoy this recent edit, many more to come.

Recently, I have set up a tour to India, for 12 days of tiger photography, in November 2014. This is going to be one very special tour, with incredible opportunities to photograph the spectacular Bengal Tiger, and cubs. Up to date info is available via email.

We also have private tours ready to be booked for Costa Rica, with small groups, maximum 4 people. This ensures a very interesting, and productive experience. I hope you and your photographer friends will join me soon!

Thanks to everyone... it is great to have 15 tours now completed to this wonderful place of nature and colours.

Green-crowned Brilliant
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/250s f/4.0 at 360.0mm iso640

4 Females in Focus! - Amazing Luck!

These 4 beauties were all feeding on this flower at once, and somehow they all hovered on the same focus distance, and parallel to my sensor.
No cloning, or any special photoshopping, almost full frame, slight crop for a 16/9 ratio.

Thanks to nature for providing us all so much beauty!

thanks to you for looking!

Green-crowned Brilliant Females Feeding
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/640s f/4.0 at 200.0mm iso640

The Colour Effect

Working with colours can be great fun. In Costa Rica, there is no limit to what we have to choose from - colourful birds with colourful environment.

Enjoying such an opportunity in a rain shower can be even more fun, with the water creating such saturated colours, without the bright sunlight. Since I never use any flash, the natural light here is so sweet, and amazing nature provides all the excitement!

Thanks for looking!


Green-crowned Brilliant
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/320s f/4.0 at 220.0mm iso640

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15 Tours Complete!

And my first good look at the elusive Howler!

This was fun, up high on a viewing platform, looking down to two amazing monkeys feeding in the canopy. Interesting to see the underside of the tail in this shot, with the "leathery" finish, rather then a full coat of fur. - thanks to my guests.... and especially my great friend Naseeb, who joined me all the way from Tanzania!

Lots of Hummingbird images coming soon!

Please respect nature, integrity is always what comes first for my workshops.



Black Howler Monkey
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/400s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso500

Amazing things happen!

In Costa Rica!

A recent tour with several guests when extremely well when these beautiful birds came to us for a visit! At least 60 hummingbirds from about 7 different species entertained our group for an entire day!

With the light constantly changing in the cloud forests at almost 9,000 feet, the exposures are challenging. this image was a titch dark on the Raw file, so I was able to make corrections in CS5 software.

Never using flash, and loving natural light is the key here, my camera gives me nice resolution at 1600 - 2000 iso, so just enough shutter speed to make this work.

At 4 fps, I was able to capture 8 sharp images of this scene, so since the tougue was extended for this shot, I figure this one was the image to edit.

Please respect nature, and the environment, please do not litter, or destruct the home of these beautiful creatures around the world.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird in Flight
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/2500s f/4.0 at 330.0mm iso1600

Bluebird Lift-off!

A wonderful male Eastern Bluebird lifts of his perch for higher ground!

Local workshops are great fun. Little travel, one on one programs that help photographers learn how to work with nature, and enjoy the beauty. A lot of suggestions, and recommendations for all aspects of wildlife and bird photography, especially talks about ethical nature photography.

Helping people understand the reasonable limitations on what we should and should not be doing in the field is an important part of my program.

please respect our natural world!


Eastern Bluebird in Flight
RJB Wild Birds of Ontario Workshops
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/5000s f/7.1 at 300.0mm iso4000

White-necked Jacobin in Flight
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/800s f/6.3 at 400.0mm iso1600

Flight of the Bluebird

Such a beautiful bird to see and photograph. A hidden gem in the back roads of Ontario, these birds have struggled to survive. Dew to the amazing efforts from so many caring individuals, the species is on the rebound.

Bluebird boxes are maintained all over Ontario, to help these birds find a place to nest, as so much habitat loss due to urban expansion, and farming.

Iso 6400 for this shot gave me a high shutter speed, enough to minimize blur. More noise than I like to deal with, but still a decent image quality with some noise reduction techniques in post processing.

Have a good week, please respect nature and all of our beautiful natural world.


Eastern Bluebird in Flight
RJB Wild Birds of Ontario Workshops
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/6400s f/6.3 at 400.0mm iso6400

Costa Rica Travel and Bird Photography

Thanks to my guests for another wonderful tour to this wildlife gem in Central America.

Green-crowned Brilliant
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/13s f/13.0 at 400.0mm iso320

Nesting Quetzals

On a remote farm in the mountains of Costa Rica, we find a pair of nesting Resplendent Quetzals taking care of their babies.

Constantly returning to their nest provides us with the opportunity to enjoy nature with almost no disturbance. These birds have been nesting on remote farms for many year, successfully maintaining
their families along side the farmers and their cows.

A clear view on this nest was golden for everyone, I hope to post more images of the actual nesting later on., a few flight shots too.

This male was on guard, as their was an Emerald Toucanete
nearby, preparing to invade the nest for a meal.

Nature at it's best, respect, and learning is always fun!

Resplendent Quetzal
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/160s f/6.3 at 400.0mm iso640

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Nesting with Babies!

Thanks to Swarovski Optics

A couple of good friends have kept me posted with news of this Great Horned Owl Nest, 2 babies being fed here, a large rat!

Thanks to my sponsor Swarvoski Optics, this scope is amazing for long distance DSLR photography. With a crop camera, and the 95mm lens on the modular system, we have an effective reach of 1,340mm @ 30x - f9.5.

This nest is about 60 yards from where I am standing, and about 30 yards up in the air. The adults nearby, patrolling the security of the nests, as there are many raptors in the area looking for an easy meal.

Keeping a good distance from the nest is the key to the success of the Great Horned Owls breeding season. Approaching too close could be detrimental to the lives of the babies.

Respect for nature is always foremost on my mind, so keeping this location quiet is a priority.

Great Horned Owl nest
RJB Wild Birds of Ontario Workshops
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Swarovski Spotting Scope - 95mm
1/2000s iso1000 f9.5

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Enough Light!

To capture this tiny bird at 1/8000 of a second.

Not much bigger then a bumble-bee, this beautiful bird examined this flower intensely. About 80 beats per second, catching a bit of freeze in the wings is difficult during most conditions.

Looking forward to one more tour coming up in 3 weeks... join us!!

Volcano Hummingbird
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/8000s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1000

Travel to Costa Rica

And see this amazing bird float in the wind!

During my programs down south we might make as many as 3 trips to a private property to see the resplendent quetzal. A short hike into the mountain, sit and wait, and hope this awesome bird will join us for some imaging!

Resplendent Quetzal
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/320s f/6.3 at 360.0mm iso1600

A Family Issue!!

2 Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbirds sort out their problems
in front of my guests during a photo-shoot in Costa Rica. Looks like mother and daughter here, we all wonder why nature needs to be so confrontational! (more with hummingbirds then any other of our planets species!)

I think the word "Mine" explains things.. :))

Special thanks to everyone for viewing my images!!

Kind regards from Canada!

Green-crowned Brilliant Family
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/1000s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1600

Green Crowmed Brilliant
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/800s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1600

Spotted Hyena
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/2000s f/4.0 at 210.0mm iso200

Little Bee-eater
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/200s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Tawny Eagle
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/250s f/7.1 at 290.0mm iso200

Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/320s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso200

Pied Avocet
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/500s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Female Lion
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/250s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Reflection

This greater flamingo posed for us while feeding one early morning, in the Central Serengeti. To study the amazing techniques this bird has for acquiring food is so interesting.

Such a peaceful environment, with the risk of death at any moment is what makes Tanzania so special. Predators lurking around every corner will keep this birds alert status well engaged!

Many more images from Tanzania to come, best wishes, thanks to everyone!

Greater Flamingo
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/400s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Lion Cubs
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/200s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Jackel
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/500s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso320

Southern Ground Hornbill
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/320s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Gray-backed Shrike
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/2000s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400

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Giraffe on the Serengeti
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/400s f/8.0 at 70.0mm iso200

Zebra
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/400s f/10.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Cape Buffalo
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/1000s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso200

Little Bee-eater
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/125s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso320

Male Ostrich
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/400s f/5.6 at 200.0mm iso400

Baby Elephant
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/320s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400

Cory Bustard
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/2000s f/4.0 at 220.0mm iso200

Spotted Hyena
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/2500s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso200

Lion Family
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/40s f/7.1 at 400.0mm iso400

Spotted Hyena
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/2000s f/4.0 at 330.0mm iso200

Looking Back

Almost 4 years ago, I did my first travel photography tour with 3 guests, and a rental van!

We explored Newfoundland, and had a great time! Digging through some old files, I found this shot that I did not edit.. taken on a rainy foggy day new Witless Bay, NL. what a great place to explore!

Raymond Barlow - Nature Photographer

Atlantic Puffin
RJB Newfoundland Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/640s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso320

One is shy!

Amazing things happen "after" the shot is taken.

While reviewing images, we look for certain criteria to find just the right image to be processed. This one is a little different, as I was not aware that we have 2 birds in this image until I had it placed as a desktop background!

Look closely below our primary bird, just below it, we see the second "partner" peeking through the Acacia tree. Since I really enjoy photographing raptors in Africa, this shot ended up with a small bonus raptor, unforeseen.

Have a great day!

Raymond Barlow Photo Tours
thanks to those who +1, comment, and share!


African Kestrels
RJB Tanzania, Africa Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/500s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso400

Big City Life

A weekend in NYC - Times Square!

Just now waiting for my buddy Nas from Tanzania, we are working together this weekend at the NY times Travel show. We hope to promote photography tours in Tanzania with Nas's awesome company, Maasai Wanderings.

Nas and his wife Donna do an amazing job entertaining my Tanzania Tour guests, taking us to the best wildlife photographic opportunities in Africa.

Nas and his brother Abdullie will be here soon, in the mean time, I am preparing my presentation for the show. My first time in NYC, so I am very happy to have such an opportunity.

Thanks to everyone who shares my images!!

This shot was taken during some spectacular light on the recent tour to Costa Rica. A male Green Crowned Brilliant, defending his territory!
What an amazing tour!! ps.. Quetzal Photography will be at its very best in April, I can't wait to get back down there!

Green-crowned Brilliant
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/800s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1600
available light

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Appreciation

Thanks to my guests, and thanks to all the great people who
have helped me in Costa Rica!

Hosting tours in this wonderful country can be challenging, with 12 programs now completed, and many more being planned soon, I consider myself extremely fortunate.

The photography side is good fun, most enjoyable. Helping my guests create beautiful images also is truly a blast! Working with all the great local people, hotel staff, park officials, property owners who take great care of the environment, travel companies, etc, is also a big part of why my business is successful.

Thanks to everyone!

A proud Female Brilliant below protects her perch!

Green Crowned Brilliant
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/800s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso800

Such Color!

Special workshops to enjoy the color of nature, and the beauty!

Can we imagine anything more spectacular then this bird? The iridescent feathers set the Quetzal apart from most any other bird in the world. The soft greens and blues paired with the incredible rouge breast feathers make this bird something very special to see.

A clear image with complimentary environment can be most difficult. Hosting a group of keen photographers who were really dedicated to capturing this bird adds a specific type of excitement when a scene like this presents itself.

I feel this bird has a sense of "show". We waited patently for about 1.5 hours, he looked at me and decided it was time to model for my guests. After jumping out of my skin, we quickly moved into the best possible position for a view, keeping our distance, leaving the bird it's comfort zone.

Enjoy nature, respect all creatures, provide good environment with clean air and water for many generations to see and photograph!


Resplendent Quetzal
RJB Colours of Costa Rica Tour
ray@raymondbarlow.com
1/200s f/4.0 at 260.0mm iso1000

A True Challenge - To capture such Beauty!

The fun of bird photography can be equally as frustrating.

We enjoy the beauty of these tiny feathered creatures, just watching them fuss and maintain territories is amazing to see. Their navigational skills are incredible! To capture a pair of hummingbirds
in focus can be the ultimate challenge.

This shot taken from about 10 feet, at 340 mm at f4, leaving me with less then 1 inch of depth of field. The key is to find 2 birds at exactly the same distance from the camera!

A special thanks to everyone who commented, +1, and shared my last image.... unreal!! Over 851,000 views! I am really not sure how that happened, but I do appreciate this very much.

Raymond Barlow nature Photography Tours
(booking private tours to Costa Rica!)

Coppery-headed Emerald and Green Thorntail hummingbirds
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Available light only.
1/2000s f/4.0 at 340.0mm iso1000