Monday, August 20, 2012

Looking Back-Gamboa

I find that reviewing my photography is an important thing.  Today I begin the 4 part series that started my birding adventures with a camera.   Last year I traveled to Panama with an okay camera.  It would also be the first time I started to watermark my work as I had several pics stolen and used on other sites as their own.  It was also the first time that I seriously examined my work with a critical eye.  Sometimes my eye was too critical and I left pictures out of the writing.  If you followed Las Aventuras last year, these pictures will not be repeats at all.  Part of my job with this 4 day series was to re-examine my work from last year and figure out why I didn't post them.  If you are newer to the blog, all of these pics will be new.  If you are interested in Panama, check out the post suggestions below.  This is how I came across Eileen from Viewing Nature With Eileen.
Every year I take a major trip somewhere.  I haven't taken one this year....yet.  The house came first this summer. But we are currently planning a big event for next year that may include penguins and lots of snow.  Before travel to another country, we research months in advance on places that are barely known about or are important to explore for cultural reasons.  We are Spanish language specialists(my day job) and love getting a closer look at the cultures surrounding the language.  Like any language, Spanish is different from one country to the next.  In any case, there is a lot to see/cram into these visits.  Today we visit Gamboa. And then we'll move onto Coiba Island, Bocas Del Toro, and Boquete.
Oropendola Nest
Gamboa would prove to change directions for me in my pursuit of wildlife.  Last year at this time, I didn't really understand birding and kind of laughed at it.  But a friendly man by the name of Ivan helped me take a closer look at our winged friends.  This place is not only beautiful but it changed me.  If I had money, I'd buy one of those old homes there and live!  It was really beautiful.  Birders if you haven't been to the famed Pipeline Road in Gamboa, it's really worth your time.  You won't regret the trip at all. 
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
But onto the photography.  I didn't post a lot of these shots because they were blurred or at the time, I thought rather boring.   But with blogging, it's okay to post the not so perfect shots as well.   I went back on several of my albums and pulled these beauties out.  I hadn't been planning on doing these posts as I was studying the Ivory Bill Woodpecker which led to several other Woodpeckers in Mexico etc.  It was devastating to find out that several of the largest woodpeckers were wiped out and now labeled extinct.  But I remembered a shot from the rainforest of this colorful number above and I went back into my files(thank you to a fellow birder who told me never to delete pics).  Good advice because I was able to ID this particular Woodpecker.
And this Toucan flew right into view.  While I didn't get the shot of the head like I had hoped, I did capture proof that I saw one on the wild.  No zoo. No captive wildlife program.  And I realized for the first time in my life that the camera I was using wasn't good enough for me.  I'm going to be honest here.  I loved my camera, but I discovered that my hands would be tied for most of the shoots around Panama.  I didn't have control of the focus or shutter speed.  If I had the camera I have now(the Canon Rebel), I would have gotten that shot.  But I also learned much from the experience.
While we were in Gamboa, I was inspired by this bamboo corridor.   Today I have created this idea with Buddha Belly's Bamboo in the fern garden.  It looks great!  You can see me climbing one of the poles on the left side because I'm a bamboo freak:)
Oh and this story.  Here we are catching a break from the downpour.  I was filming a heron and my camera cap rolled into the water.  I thought it was gone but when I looked down I could see it in the water but they were full of caiman and crocs...so a boat person came along and fished it out for me.  I was extremely thankful for his help. 
Black Vultures
The hikes were long and difficult.  Bring plenty of water with you as we dehydrated quickly. It was one of the sweatiest experiences of my life, but the wildlife was a treat to observe.  I made a video last year capturing the beauty of this area.  More tomorrow.....
This is pretty scary.  Harbinger of Death?

24 comments:

  1. Beautiful shots and the video, I can't wait for the next part.

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  2. I really enjoyed your write up and the video Chris. Its good to hear you are planing lots of trips to far flung places - travel really does broaden the mind, not to mention the photographic opportunuites. If I had lots of cash I reckon I'd be at home 6 months and travelling the rest. Good advice about not throwing out pics too. Reckon I won't get to Panama and walk down that bamboo road but thanks for sharing it with everyone.

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  3. Enjoyed this trip; bad luck with the camera cap, but good luck came along as well. Yes, I agree it would be nice to live in a big old home with a wonderful wild garden, tropical flowers and birds..perhaps later? Best Wishes, dreams can be nurtured.

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  4. Chris, I was just looking over some of my shots from Gamboa, Panama and Costa Rica. The woodie and toucan are cool birds and great sightings. I am so glad we paid for a guide to take us on the Pipeline. He id so many hummers at the Discovery center. I could live in Costa Rica, I love it there. Great post and memories. BTW, thanks for mentioning my blog. Have a great day!

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  5. Echaba de menos tus artículos del paraíso panameño.

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  6. Beautifully captured on photos and video. Enjoyed it so much. So exciting to see a Toucan in the wild!

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  7. You have certainly peaked my interest in Panama. Those little rodents are cute, but I'm sorry to know they are the primary residents.

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  8. Excellent post Chris, loved the video, the rain coming down over the forests is wonderful. I can see how the bamboo corridor would inspire you, had a chuckle at you trying to climb it! Like Phil I probably won't get o Panama or Gamboa but am more than happy to see them vicariously through your eyes.

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  9. Dziękuje za pokazani mi nieznanych, a bardzo ciekawych miejsc. Zdjęcia, łącznie z tukanem i filmik są wspaniałe. Pozdrawiam.
    Thank you for showing me unknown, and very interesting places. Photos, including the toucan and video are great. Yours.

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  10. Great set of photos, Chris... You are so lucky --and so smart---to take a major trip every year. I never got to travel much until retirement... Now--I am trying to see alot before I no longer can do it... BUT--as with many people these days, not having enough money to do much traveling is stopping us... We'll just do what we can with what we have. In the meantime, keep sharing your photos... Love them!!!
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  11. Beautiful pictures and the video.

    Have a lovely week.

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  12. Another great read Chris and the photos and video were lovely too. It does look an interesting place. The Toucan is a beautiful and colourful bird, they are so exotic looking.

    I loved your recent hummer post, gorgeous photos of those little gems!

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  13. Lovely pictures and I enjoyed the video.

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  14. Good post, Chris, with beautiful pictures and nice video!
    The Oropendola nest is amazing.

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  15. Thanks for sharing Chris and a lovely post. Great photos - wonderful to see a wild toucan and I loved the video. Was really interested to see the bamboo (loved you climbing it :) ) - we have several varieties in the garden!

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  16. This is really interesting. I doubt I will ever go there but it sure is fun seeing it through your lens. Thanks!

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  17. BTW Chris. I am diligently working on the picture viewing thingy. I found I can view the thumbnails on my IPad so believe it is an Internet Explorer issue, or Picasa. When I view photos on the IPad they have a blogspot address when I view them on my pc they have a Picasa address. This leads me to believe there is some kind of compatibility issue going on. I'm still digging. I love a puzzle!

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  18. Great post! Nice to follow along on your trip to a place I've never been. The Crimson-crested Woodpecker is a beauty; it looks similar to the Pileated Woodpeckers that visit my yard from time to time. I can't imagine how cool it would be to see a Toucan in the wild!

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  19. Great post Chris. Similarly, I wasn't really into birds until I picked up my camera last year and it opened up a whole new world for me. Love your birds!

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  20. i like the flock of black vultures. and the toucan shot shows its beautiful colored bill!

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  21. Wonderful photos, Chris. You have come a long way in the past year! I am sorry I have fallen behind on my blog reading....but...did you say penguins and snow???? YIPPEE!!

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  22. Hey! No stress:) I know what it's like with a full time job and trying to blog. It's nearly impossible to do so just get yourself settled in:)

    As for Penguins and snow.....maybe whales:) We looking at Patagonia near the South Pole in Argentina. In fact, we're trying to work out several idea. Iguazu Falls, Argentina, the wine country there, and then Patagonia. But we have to look at the budgeting. But this will be next summer May/June. I want to freeze again:) It's so hot here.

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  23. You are blessed to have seen and experienced so many things. Also because I think you've learned what so many others never do - go out and live your life and be open to new cultures and new people. Wonderful, Chris. Penguins and snow!

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