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Cloud Forest Glow

It was raining on and off during the afternoon of this incredible sunset at the Costa Rica Cloud Forest. Since the weather was changing so much, I was keeping an eye on the sunset because usually "bad" weather can transform into amazing pictures. Sure enough, the rain stopped and I couldn't believe what I saw from my cabin, it looked like the mountains were on fire. I ran to a viewpoint where I was able to witness this amazing sunset. The rain in the distance was reflecting the orange warm light from the sun, creating this wonderful glow that lasted less than three minutes. A big part of Nature Photography is being at the right place at the right time.

Lake Agnes in Fall

Lake Agnes is a great place to photograph during fall. For this composition I wanted to have a clean foreground with reflections on the water. The golden larches on either side of the image form leading lines to the center of the scene, which are accentuated with the mirror reflections on the water. This creates an almost perfect geometric view that is drastically contrasted with Devil's Thumb peaks, rising dramatically from the lake's shore on the background. Lake Agnes is located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. The trail starts from the shore of the famous Lake Louise.

Three Sisters

When I think of Canmore, the Three Sisters are one of the first things that come to my mind. Canmore is located in Alberta, Canada, and it is my favorite town in the province. These three peaks next to each other are a beautiful scene to see and photograph. It was a windy fall afternoon with many clouds in the sky. The sun in this scene is behind the mountain on the far right, adding great contrast to the sky which fades into darker clouds to the left. Despite the strong wind I was able to capture nice reflections of the sky and the mountains on the water. Note the soft light on the trees at the base of the first peak. The light conditions of this landscape and the moody weather were the main factors that made me decide to develop it in black and white.

Red-eyed Tree Frog

This amazing frog is commonly known as "Red-eyed Tree Frog" or "Rana Calzonuda" in Spanish. Its scientific name is Agalychnis Callidryas. It has big red eyes, an intense green body with blue and yellow stripes, orange feet and a white belly. Males measure around 6cm while females are bigger, growing up to 7.5cm. Its different colors make this frog one of the most photographed frogs in the world. Its camouflage is excellent by shrinking into a small form, hiding its eyes and colors with its legs and body, becoming part of any green leaf. Usually they don't move a lot, making them a great subject to photograph. For this composition I wanted to emphasize the big red eye. This image was taken in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica.

Aurora - Ghost Lake

The Aurora Borealis captured at Ghost Lake, near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The camera captured in a nice way green, yellow, magenta, purple and red colors. I really like this composition with foreground elements inlcuding rocks and a log. The lake was still frozen and has a nice smooth green cast from the Aurora. The trees on the left balance the composition of this image. The Northern Lights are a wonderful nature event.

Warrior

This bull elk was roaming around its herd when it decided to rest, while still remaining vigilant of the surroundings. The antlers of this warrior were as impressive as the injuries it had around its eyes; probably from previous battles with other bull elk. When a foolish human got too close to one of the cow elks, it made it clear to stay away with its loud call.

Innocence

Puerto Adolfo López Mateos is a fabulous site for gray whale watching. It is located in Comondú, Baja California Sur, México. The offshore barrier created by Isla Magdalena makes it a safe place for whales to give birth. Since I knew we had a good chance of getting close to the whales, I wanted to capture their peaceful essence by getting a closeup of an eye. We were fortunate enough to get very close to a mom and a curious baby. This image represents exactly what I envisioned, the innocent look of a baby gray whale emerging from the ocean.

Resplendent Quetzal

I lived in Costa Rica for 32 years of my life and never saw a Quetzal because I never went looking for one. After moving to Canada and starting with photography, I realized how I missed many amazing opportunities and experiences because you take things for granted. This is my first official Resplendent Quetzal image taken in San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica. This male was feeding and perching on an "aguacatillo" tree which is a a fruit of the avocado family. Males have four extended uppertail coverts up to 76cm long. In this image its tail was hiding behind some branches so I decided to compose focusing on its amazing red and green feathers that cover its body. Don't take things for granted and go enjoy the things that surround you wherever you live.

Keel-billed Toucan

Keel-billed toucans are one of the most striking birds you can see in Costa Rica. The multicolored bill is so unique that it is easy to understand why many people travel looking for this species. The contrast of green, yellow, orange, blue and red colors on its bill is wonderful. The yellow feathers on its throat and chest have an outer red ring that separates them from the black feathers on the rest of its body. On top of all these, its feet are blue! A magnificent bird that will always be a great subject to photograph. This image was taken in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica.

Ornate Hawk-Eagle

One of the three Hawk-Eagle species found in Costa Rica. This Ornate Hawk-Eagle was hunting, waiting for a prey to show up and then dove into the forest trying to capture something. I was delighted with this amazing bird for half an hour, it wasn't easy to follow but when it perched looking for a prey I took advantage of the opportunity to capture some great images and video. The intense look on its eyes and the size of the talons are the main things I like from this image. Boca Tapada, Costa Rica.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

While I was photographing other larger birds, this little Rufous-tailed Hummingbird kept coming back to the same spot. I was able to capture this moment while it was stretching, showing its iridescent green throat feathers and its rufous tail. Sarapiqui, Costa Rica.

Red-headed Barbet

Red-headed Barbets are small birds that measure around 6 inches or 15cm. You can find many nice birds in Costa Rica, making it diffcult to have a favorite one. However this little bird is easily on my top 3 favorite birds. I love that it's small, it looks mad and it is so colorful. The contrast of red, black, white, yellow, orange and greeen on the male make it look unreal. A very cute bird that I'm glad to have in my portfolio. Cinchona, Costa Rica.

Lake McArthur Autumn

Lake McArthur is located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. This is one of the many fascinating lakes around Lake O'Hara. Its strong and deep blue color is amazing. The landscape makes you feel like you are in paradise; surrounded by mountains, trees, wildflowers and marmots!