Costa Rica Rainforest 2024 Trip Report for Tom BoL PhotoWorkshops

The Osa Peninsula

The amount of wildlife on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is incredible for the Americas. We keep coming back to this area because of the diversity of species and the comfortable lodging at the Botanika Resort. Our workshop groups can photograph monkeys, anteaters, Scarlet Macaws and crocodiles without leaving the grounds.

Northern Tamadua Anteater at Botanika
Ready for the wildlife
Howler Monkey on the Botanika Grounds

Monkey Business

Both workshops this year hit the "Grand Slam" of monkeys. We photographed all 4 species of monkeys on the Osa including Squirrel, Spider, Howler and White Faced Capuchin Monkeys. At this time of year all 4 species have babies. We loved photographing the babies riding on their mother's backs, as they swing through the trees.

White--faced Capuchin mother and baby
Enna and her big lens
Baby Spider Monkey

Silent Sloths

On our sloth day we visit the La Perica Sloth Garden to photograph both Three-toed and Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloths. This year both groups were fortunate enough to have a 5 month baby sloth at eye level in a tree.

Susan taking aim at La Perica
Mother and baby Three-toed Sloths
Joe - the friendly sloth

Macro Reptiles and Amphibians

One of our favorite photoshoots of the workshop is our day at La Tarde photographing snakes, lizards and frogs. We use both natural and continuous lights for the shoot.

Cheryl getting to know her subject!
Jim and Alan working the Gladiator Frog

More Macro

For the smaller macro subjects we use macro lenses. For the more venomous ones, like the Yellow Eyelash Viper (background image) we step back and used lenses in the 100-400 range.

Wendy keeping her distance
Terry and Will using macro lenses to photograph a dart frog

Colorful Birds

Costa Rica is also a bird-lovers paradise. This year we had very good luck photographing Scarlet Macaws. The Osa Peninsula is one of the best places in Costa Rica to photograph this bird because of the abundant almond trees in the area. We also photographed toucans, tanagers, euphonia, hummingbirds and flycatchers.

Yellow-throated Toucan with a Katydid
Having fun in the rainforest
Golden-hooded Tanager

Ocean Tour

This was a new outing for our workshop this year. We took speedboats out on the calm waters of the Golfo Dulce to explore marine life in the area. We enjoyed it so much that we will be keeping it on the schedule for our 2025 Workshop.

Spotted Dolphin in the Golfo Dulce
Park ranger, Costa Rican style
Brown Booby takes off of calm water

Using Artificial Light

We used the comfortable air-conditioned conference room at Botanika to teach several classes during our workshops. In addition to "Tips for Jungle Photography", editing session and "Wildlife Technique", we showed people ways to use artificial light for creative effect in the rainforest. We finished both workshops with an Image Review to celebrate the great work created by our photographers.

Leaf-cutter Ant illuminated with a continuous light
Photo credit Keith Eisele
Heliconia illuminated with a speedlight

Many thanks to the 26 photographers who joined us on our workshops this year in Costa Rica! Big kudos to our lead guide Eduardo for his excellent organization and sense of fun.

Want to join us in the Costa Rica Rainforest next year? We have space March 22-29, 2025. Click here to learn more

We are also headed to the Rainforest of Belize January 5-12, 2025 and we have 3 Spaces Available. Learn more

Thanks for reading our trip reports!

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