Photographing seabirds from a small fishing boat off the coast of Capurganá, Colombia, presents both challenges and rewards. On a recent morning, I made the trip to Isla Terrón de Azúcar—a rugged, rocky island just offshore—hoping to photograph the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in its natural habitat. The island is home to dozens of these birds, which nest along its steep, sea-battered ledges. With the morning sun casting a warm glow across the scene, I spotted a moment of quiet interaction between two Brown Boobies perched on a weathered outcropping. This would be my subject.
To prepare for the conditions, I selected the Canon R5 paired with the RF 800mm f/11 lens. Given the boat’s movement on the choppy water and the need to freeze subtle motion in harsh daylight, I pushed the shutter speed to 1/3000 second. I removed the 1.4x extender to preserve more light and increased ISO to 6400 to compensate. The constant rolling of the boat made framing difficult, but the camera’s stabilization system, combined with fast reflexes and timing, allowed me to capture a tack-sharp image despite the instability. The final shot shows both birds clearly, framed against a blurred wall of sea-sculpted stone.
This experience underscores how crucial it is to adapt gear and settings to unpredictable conditions. Shooting handheld with a long lens from a boat tests both equipment and patience. But when the light, behavior, and background all align—even briefly—the result is a frame that tells a story not only of the subject, but of the effort it took to get there.
©2023 Adam Rainoff Photographer
