Geoffroy’s Tamarin at the Edge of the Darién Jungle

adamrainoff — Sat, 17 May 2025 00:16:16 GMT

This photograph of Geoffroy’s tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi) was captured on the misty fringe of the Darién jungle near Capurganá, Chocó, Colombia. I found this small primate perched on a slender branch just before sunrise, its black-and-white coat and rufous nape illuminated by the faint glow of dawn. The surrounding foliage, rendered in soft focus, creates a natural frame that emphasizes the tamarin’s calm yet alert expression.

Technically, the shot was made with a Canon EOS R5 paired to an RF 100–400mm lens and a 1.4× extender, yielding an effective focal length of 560mm. The combination of lens and extender fixed the aperture at f/11, so I set ISO to 3200 to lift details from deep shadow. The R5 chose a shutter speed of 1/30 second—challenging for handheld work at that reach—but the tamarin’s stillness and careful handholding yielded a sharp frame. These settings balanced depth of field, exposure, and detail, allowing the rich textures of fur and bark to come through despite the low-light conditions.

Photographing Geoffroy’s tamarins reminds me of the delicate balance these Near Threatened primates maintain in their ecosystem. Each image I capture is a blend of patient fieldcraft and technical precision, aimed at raising awareness of the species’ conservation needs and the fragile beauty of their rainforest home.

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Geoffroy’s Tamarin at the Edge of the Darién Jungle