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

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Dreams Come True

A shot I have tried for many times, and finally achieved my goal!

But why do they fight so much! Regardless the challenge is the fun, and when the plan works out we can share with our friends. Thanks to everyone for all the help and support., heading home from Costa Rica soon, lots more editing waiting.

best wishes.

Fiery-throated Hummingbirds in Flight
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/2000s f/4.0 at 330.0mm iso3200

053

The Beauty of Natural Light

"Naturally" how we create images is very much a personal issue.

Many photographers who enjoy nature photography use artificial lighting, and enjoy the detail brought out by this technique. Personally, I never us any flash for nature. I did try it once, and failed miserably!

Learning to work with the available light is a skill, much the same as using artificial light., either system is difficult and takes a lot of practice to do well.

With my guests on the tours I host, we engage in such discussions, concerning what is "best", when there is no best. If you are happy with your images, nothing else matters. When they here me suggest that a flashed image looks "plastic", the blood begins to boil!

My comments are always in humor, and I hope that everyone would not take my opinions personally. We all have different goals with our imaging, the key is to enjoy the process.

rjb

Violet Sabrewing in Flight
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/4000s f/4.0 at 280.0mm iso640

Scintillant Hummingbird
RJB Costa Rica Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/8000s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1000

055

Just the right Angle

For a clean background! Positioning the camera is the key to capturing smooth backgrounds in the right light. A good distance behind this bird, with a grass lawn about 60 yards away helped this image and bird shine. The Green violetear is very common in Costa Rica, thanks to the beauty of nature.
No flash ever used in my wildlife photography.

A few more edits here... http://raymondbarlow.smugmug.com/Costa-Rica-Tours/i-DwWXsPS

Green Violetear
RJB Costa Rica Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/1600s f/4.0 at 360.0mm iso640

Yellow and Green

Colour is a big deal in nature photography, we all look for the drama!

This silver-throated tanager takes this concept to the max. these colours just seem to be the "natural" match. One of the smallest tanagers I have seen in Costa Rica, but also a very friendly and approachable bird. We keep a good distance for most of the birds at this location, then move in for a shot during last light.

Lots more editing to do as I have a back-log of workshop images to review and edit, hard to keep up!

Thanks for looking!


Silver-throated Tanager
RJB Costa Rica Tours

ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/125s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1000

To my most wonderful family.

Daisy and Maria, my wife and daughter are the answer to all of my dreams. This image is dedicated to them, their amazing support to me
and this business is incredible. The two pink flowers in the background remind me of how sweet and caring they are, with me, all of the time.

Everything I do is for Daisy, and my sweet Maria.

Thanks to everyone who shares, clicks, +1's, comments on my images, I am a very lucky person.


Green Crown Brilliant Juvenile
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/1250s f/4.0 at 380.0mm iso1600

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Green Nature

Preparing for a tour in Costa Rica can be an enjoyable experience, hiking in the back woods with an expert guide is good fun.

When I cross paths with 3 male and 2 female resplendent quetzals, I look at the situation and analyze the amount of luck involved. How fortunate can one be? Nature is real, nature is beauty. The appreciation for such an amazing experience is beyond these tiny black dots, making a poor attempt to convey my thoughts.

Aside from all that, a bird with beautiful environment, sweet light, and an awesome angle, un-imaginable. Then, on top of the above, at leat 10 minutes to get the shot... heart pumping, anxiety like crazy!!

Miss my family, wish they were here. I really appreciate the opportunity to share this experience with all of you!



Resplendent Quetzal
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/200s f/4.0 at 400.0mm iso1000

Colour in Flight

Presently hosting 2 tours in Costa Rica with wonderful guests, and beautiful weather. Hummingbird photography can be extremely challenging. Working with natural light is the key to creating images that look real, or at least as real as possible!

I will try to post a few more, time is limited. I start around 4 am, and finish about 9-9:30 at night! - these guys keep me busy, and such great fun hanging out and working with some of the best photographer I have known.

Green Crown Brilliant Juvenile
RJB Costa Rica Tours
ray@raymondbarlow.com
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/2500s f/4.0 at 350.0mm iso1600

Great Gray Owl in Flight
RJB Wild Birds of Ontario Workshops

ray@raymondbarlow.com
No bait used
Nikon D800 ,Nikkor 200-400mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S VR
1/2000s f/4.0 at 300.0mm iso500