Macro Photography in ECUADOR - Episode 1: Bugs, Beetles, and Birds

A macro photography trip to Ecuador's cloud forest to look for wild arthropods.
Thanks to Nancy Miorelli for all the help on the trip: www.scibugs.info/
El Septimo Paraiso - the place we stayed, is highly recommended! septimoparaiso....
To join a trip like this in the future, keep an eye on bugshot.net/ for upcoming workshops!
Check out Andreas Kay's (RIP) flickr here: www.flickr.com...
...and finally, big thanks to Cybergenic on Freesound for the ambient rainfall track heard in some parts of the video: freesound.org/...

[@ktomsen8528]

Thomas, traveling with you around the world, exploring the natural world via your videos, accompanied by your positive encouraging perspective and fine homemade music is a great gift every time.

[@GrymmsPlace]

'The Wondrous World of Thomas Shahan' - and thank you bringing us along with you. Amazing photographs. Just amazing. Thank you.

[@tutorialesmusica7356]

This is one of the most educational and enjoyable videos I've seen on photography. The photos are fascinating.

[@jonathanguthrie7037]

Thoughtful, respectful view of nature with superb photos

[@manojkumartuteja8713]

Can't tell you how eagerly I wait for episode number 2. Thomas, you are an inspiration.

[@davegball]

Love the way you just have the rain as background audio.

[@andresmoline751]

Wonderful expedition to Ecuador! Rip Andreas Kay

[@adrianroyle4425]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! I first visited Ecuador and Mindo about 17 years ago and had 7 trips to various areas in just a few years. Got totally hooked on insect macros even though I first visited for bird watching. After about 9am each day the birds would go quiet but the insect life was awesome. After the first trip I invested in my first digital camera and didn't look back after that.

[@BASKPhotography]

it's amazing how much life we can see around us if we just slow down and look for it! That's why i love Macro Photography:D

[@Shmyrk]

This, honestly, was one of the most relaxing, intriguing videos I can remember watching. Thank you

[@vilson.farias]

Inspiring! Thanks a lot for sharing your work.

[@wayneberry3453]

Great video great photos. Absolutely amazing nature. Although millions of species have been identified, it's a true wonder what we haven't seen just waiting to be discovered. Thanks for the video

[@fotolookconde]

@Thomas Shahan thank you for such an inspiration! I need to go back to the field soon and upload the video on my own KZbin channel!

[@rjung_ch]

Thomas, once again amazing pictures! Thanks for doing what you do.

[@asasinofull]

Great content! Keep them coming! 👍

[@nidheesh.k.b6105]

Wow superb video sir

[@MacroShots]

Love your work thomas, thank you 👍🏽

[@andrewgaffney4881]

Beautiful photography.

[@carlosmontecino1741]

Es un video espectacular !! Gracias Thomas, que fotografías más hermosas !! Felicitaciones por tú maravilloso trabajo. Saludos cordiales desde Chile !!

[@terser]

Gracias Carlos!

[@radudumitrescu1]

Excellent, as usual.

[@johnarmstrong5445]

Great photos. Love your work.

[@VideoNatur]

Superb pics an footage! Thanks for sharing this wonderfull content! Greetings, Rolf

[@PaulWhiteGoldEagle]

Beautiful work brother!

[@axeliav]

Great work! Very inspiring.

[@misja4122]

Wonderful video! Always find them very interesting and relaxing.

[@franciscopaz5952]

Great video, Thomas! I'm a fan of yours!

[@Mopantsu]

Insectopia. Wonderful!

[@Brock_in_the_North]

Incredible images :) so colourful

[@davidwu1234]

Thomas, I like your macro photography. I am infatuated with treehopper that it so Eudemons！😁

[@reydahamadou8737]

I love your videos. You don't need fancy equipment to do macro photography. I like this idea. I shoot macro using the kit Lens 18_55mm reversed or With a set of extension tubes.

[@Nightsoil626]

Loved this video,thankyou :-)

[@PPNJ]

Amazing video! Very talented. Subscribed!

[@ignaciopacheco8939]

Loved it, been waiting a while for this one

[@TheXone7]

Wow, beautiful trip! I am going for a bird photography trip in June, but I am also bringing my 100mm macro lens + flash + diffuser. Did you use focus stacking at the end or tried to used smaller apertures like f8-f11? Many thanks!! :-)

[@PrimalShutter]

Awesome, makes me want to try making a video like this sometime but I'm seeing I only get inspired when it's something new for me too

[@fjellboi2391]

What kind of books did you use for identifiction?

[@mindseyeview7411]

It's interesting to me that it's called macro photography...so small yet it's so loud

[@mindseyeview7411]

Quantum Biology comes to mind

[@galaxyofreesesking2124]

I think Bob Ross reincarnated himself into a photographer

[@insularis]

Hey Thomas! I'm not sure if someone else has mentioned this but I feel like you're the Bob Ross of macro photography. Please keep making your great videos and thanks for being awesome.

[@TweakMDS]

Love this, very well documented and stunning, stunning macro shots. So vivid and light. I've never been able to take macro gear into a rain forest like this, but even on a bright spring day here in the Netherlands I know how demanding it is to get everything right. It's been a few years for me to be really active, but this is inspiring!

[@Mark-ks9jj]

Thomas you are a quiet authority in this field who leads by example in how freely you share knowledge and amazing images.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thomas, this was jaw-dropping! Incredible photos and footage. I actually stayed at the same Lodge you were at for a few days this past fall. I was mostly focused on birds but regret not focusing more on insects. Incredible diversity!

[@terser]

Thanks Stefano! Just checked out your channel - I definitely need to be more prepared next time to shoot birds! :)

[@StefanoIaniro]

@@terser Haha, there's so many things to photograph out there. It's a blessing and a curse at the same time. I'm excited for episode 2!

[@MicaelWidell]

Beautiful, relaxing video as always. What a paradise for a macro photographer!

[@terser]

Thanks Micael! Inspired by your recent (and frequent!) videos!

[@MicaelWidell]

@@terser Happy to hear that. Not to make this into a total circlejerk, but your videos inspired me both to try macro photography and the style I do many of my videos :) So happy to see you posting more often again.

[@MrGflan]

@@terser you fellas are great! I got into extreme macro in 2008 during grad school. I shoot mostly birds, but macro is my other passion. Are you on Instagram, Thomas? I would love to ask you a couple of questions if you are able on that platform. Michael, your videos are awesome also. Macro is so fun!

[@wekebu]

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your photos.

[@dendroleon]

This is fantastic. Cannot wait for your arachnid episode!

[@RollinLeonard]

your videos are always so trippy and beautiful. i feel like i just got done meditating.

[@Nockturnmortem]

My beautiful country. Ecuador is a paradise.

[@naturemha]

The most relaxing, attractive, peaceful macro photography video I remember watching. I definitely need to go there. Amazing subjects, and shots. I hope you can visit Malaysia and Borneo, it d be phenomenal to watch your video of Malaysia.

[@Sharonmxg]

Well done!. You have captured amazing and profoundly beautiful examples of life many of us will never have the opportunity to with our own eyes. And the macro photography is spectacular in revealing the intricate details of these complex little critters.

[@mindseyeview7411]

When I think about Space Force I try to imagine people like you, expertise that maintains a respect and wonder for nature 💖🌍🌌💖

Hello Thomas this video was a wonderful "Easter Bunny" for me, with all your wonderful close-ups and the homely sounds of the rain in the tropical forest.

[@Miniteca]

Really fantastic bugs. You are a god of macrophotography. I'm an humble padawan looking at the jedi master you are. Like I live in France I haven't as species to shoot as you can had found in Equador forest. I only shoot jumping spiders I can found here in my garden. Not such exiting as a trip in rain forest for sure. Waiting for the following videos. Great job! Thanks

[@DirtHoleee]

Wow, Thomas! These photos are truly inspirational. A real treat. I can't wait for the next part. Thank you for sharing these wondrous encounters.

[@leonardomera121]

Congrats for this outstanding photography .Beautiful insects and birds in my country.Thanks a lot.

[@VALYK29]

I'm glad I found you on youtube. Your voice is very relaxing. For you, macro photography seems very easy to do.

[@JohnKimbler]

Excellent video Thomas! I too have become one with the delete key on my keyboard -too many ungrateful and uncooperative models ;)

[@jyangers24]

When it is cold and the winter time, I go back to watch your videos to reminisce the warm days being out looking for bugs to shoot.

[@narkonarko921]

Awesome Video really like it and thanks to name Andreas kay was a great scientist who passed away almost a year now , you can find some nice Jumping Spiders over there.

[@LieslHuddleston]

Wow, this was great, I love that red-velvet fungus beetle, and the maneuverability of the rove beetle, fascinating! What an incredibly beautiful place. I'm looking forward to the following episode :D

[@kellyharrison5184]

I love these field trips abroad! Thank you for sharing.

[@guilhermeguise]

Great video !! I wished it kept going for longer !! Really well done ! Thank you !!

[@Tritium8]

Thanks for this woderful video. Such a joy to watch.

[@MandalaHF]

Amazing macro photo results.. 👍

[@thearamilevs]

Hi mate, amazing work, thanks for the video

[@luisfelipegope]

Thomas, you are a real inspiration, you are one of the best field macro photographers out there, and it shows why. It seams to me that you don’t change to the latest gear, you stick to what works for you. You don’t run around trying to be productive, you take it slow, follow your pace. What I always felt seeing your photos and know watching the vids, is that you work for pleasure and share (photos and knowledge) as a gift to us viewers and colleagues, not as a away to gather external validation, a trap so common these day. I’m a biologist (researching owl biology) and hobby photographer from Brazil, so if you ever head this way, I would gladly show you some gems here in the southwest. Cheers

[@terser]

Thanks - I really appreciate it! I would love to visit Brazil - hope I get a chance some day!

[@edn6671]

You're such an inspiration! I'd love to visit somewhere like this one day

[@UnderwaterTwilight]

I've been watching your spider videos for years now, most of them over and over! Love this video. So relaxing and beautiful. Thanks for everything!

[@jamesdaple9951]

Gods an Artist !

[@surajmagar4110]

It is really pleasure to watch your videoes 😍😍😍

[@dougedwards7570]

some really great shots from my fave stomping grounds

[@cygnusbass]

Amazing work Thomas! Another inspirational masterpiece. @3:52 A mystery spider underneath the branch? :p

[@terser]

Thanks! Yeah - didn't actually notice that spider until putting together the vid!

[@madddog7]

Luv the birds; well done! ... and the dog

[@whatsnewinthezoo]

Just magical Thomas, thanks for sharing your life and skills man. I feel a fantastic grounding urge to get into the wild when I see your work. Please keep it up. Just wonderful.

[@bio7021]

Wonderful video so peaceful ... loved it!

[@artoffighting06]

wow, that was great! thank you for sharing :) ...i am still puzzled how you do hand-held focus stacking. you must have the hands of a surgeon. thanks to you, i dipped my toes into the (super)macro domain myself, with a vintage reverse prime lens and some extension tubes. going full manual is a great learning experience and shooting higher magnification can really be a pain in the a***, but getting the ocasional good photo somehow makes up for it everytime. and you were right, it really gives a new awareness for this everpresent micro-world! ..which is lovely, but now i am twisted since ants tend to invade my place in springtime and i am now reluctant to exterminate them due to this expanded consciousness. hm. i presume you did the trip a while ago, and not now in this corona times? anyway, stay save..

[@terser]

Thanks! High-mag macro is a unique challenge for sure - as for handheld stacking, I cover a bit of my process here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHjQgmV-n56KhdU (and yeah, this was filmed back in Aug of 2019!)

[@darrellbissing]

Very nice production. Thank you.

[@catysparks]

Enjoying your channel very much.

After all this pandemic times you must come to visit Costa Rica my friend, If you need I'll drive you to the most beautiful rain forest of the world.

[@terser]

Been wanting to visit Costa Rica for years now - someday!

[@vanessacee4154]

Stunning shots! I love the Staphylinids you captured. I used to work with some that are 3-5mm total length (biocontrol agents for greenhouse pests). Was always fascinated by their flight (upright J) and the precision with which they packed their wings with the tips of their abdomens - reminded me of a military honour guard folding and presenting a flag to a fallen soldier’s loved ones.

[@melvinch]

Did those insects pose for you ?

[@OliverWrightPhoto]

Really enjoyed this video and have subscribed. I was walking these very same trails a couple of months before so gave a real feeling of deja vu as I recognised many of the paths. In fact, the section where you are walking uphill I managed to record to of those metallic rove beetles fighting. Did you find many robberfly species? I must work out how you do those zoom in sections!

[@terser]

Know that vid well! I shot a lot of beautiful flies on the trip (covering them in next vid!) but somehow no asilids?

[@OliverWrightPhoto]

@@terser I look forward to the next video! I'm suprised you didn't find any asilids. I found quite a few on the lower trail. They were not the most corporative of subjects though. I did finally find a couple that would let me take some time.

[@DenisObolenski]

so awesome Thomas! my congrats

[@amandeepsingh5129]

Niceeee vlogs thanks sir

[@amosaiccosmos6302]

Beautiful Video. Much ❤️ to Ecuador during these tough times!

[@andrelin4345]

8:47 I rewatched this over and over. I thought the rove beetle had rudimentary wings that were not functional. I never knew they could fold like that.

[@scottcleland9163]

So beautiful, what talent

[@christoforoslina]

Amazing job! Congratulations! You are very talented. I had Pentax and I was very satisfied very good system. I am wondering why do you use this old lens? (You have done many reviews from new macro lenses) Why to you use 50mm and not 100mm macro for more distance from your subject? (Insects scary the most of the times when see people).

[@terser]

Thanks! I prefer shorter focal length macros as it allows me to get my flash/diffuser closer to the subject. Plus, the 2x teleconverter I use doubles the effective focal length of my 55mm macro. Stay tuned though - I'm currently testing and gathering video/shots for a review of the Laowa 100mm 2:1 which *might* replace my setup seen here!

[@christoforoslina]

@@terser Thank you for the reply. I am always stay in tune with you. 😊

[@aljo.antony]

Can you please start typing in the names of species in the description?

[@terser]

Sure! This was the first video I started adding names overlaid on the video - couldn't ID them all though!

[@lur9017]

How beautiful!

[@archiemccafferty9136]

Awesome images, biodiversity, location and video Thomas!!! You make macro photography look easy......but I know fully well just how much skill technically is required. Your ability to find such amazing insects and subjects is superb too. Congratulations!!!

[@wildmacrophotography7052]

Amazing.... Thanks

[@christianback4256]

Great video, Thomas. I practice the same type of wandering macro photography of live insects. I was lucky enough to travel for 3 weeks in Costa Rica just before the Covid-19 shutdown, and half of it was in the cloud forest of Monteverde. Since it was quite dry (March 2020) insect activity was not at the level you witnessed in Minto. Identification of the insects afterwards, when you do not collect them, is a challenge. On top of the resources you mentioned, for some insects I was quite lucky with accurate identifications by uploading JPEGs to an album in Google Photos, and then using Google Lens.

[@jameslove1092]

Hi thomas akways love your videos. Ps i have similar macro tube for 50mm but its dark.help please.best regards james in scotland.

[@kuscollama9522]

Wonderful! I love your photography and am a big fan of Andreas Kay, he was a great guy and his photos will live on. I was born in Ecuador and lived in Shell, in the Amazon, for most of my childhood. We loved finding all kinds of weird and wonderful bugs, but didn't have a good camera back in the day..... I now live in Japan, doing macro photography if I have time, and wish I could go back to Ecuador to shoot there too. Great shots! Looking forward to your next video! Thank you.

[@reggio565]

Thomas I just got a LAOWA 100 macro any recommendations for setting for macro shots? And flash settings? Thank you for a beautiful video

[@gibbogle]

Beautiful shots, thank you! Andrei is pronounced Ahn-dray not On-dray (it's not French).

[@timoohlsen]

Stunning images!!

[@GuilhermePavan1]

Hi Thomas, I would like to know your opinion, I currently use an inverted 50mm with extension tubes, an opportunity to buy a 65mm f / 2.8 Canon has arisen, is it worth buying it or am I still using my old setup?

[@SIG442]

Well you sure putting me to shame by miles! I didn't really have any lessons or such, I just learn as I go pretty much. But my gear isn't that noteworthy either for work like this. Hell, I wouldn't even know where to begin to get even slight success in this.

[@philemotion8876]

Thanks Thomas !!! 👍