A female Blue-chested Hummingbird (Polyerata amabilis) perches in the lush oceanfront garden of Casa Galú, Capurganá, Chocó, Colombia. Early morning light filters through palms and heliconia blooms, illuminating her iridescent emerald throat and delicate blue chest against slate-gray wings. Framed slightly from below, she balances on a crimson bract as tropical foliage dissolves into a creamy bokeh, creating a serene portrait of a species endemic to Colombia’s Pacific lowlands and western Panama.
Capturing this intimate moment required precise technique in challenging light. I shot handheld with a Canon EOS R5 paired with an RF 800mm f/11 lens and a 1.4× extender for a total effective reach of 1,120mm. The extender fixed the aperture at f/16, so I set ISO 3200 to lift detail from deep shadows beneath the garden canopy. The camera then selected a shutter speed of 1/30 second—just fast enough to freeze her subtle movements while preserving feather texture and minimizing noise. Controlled breathing and a steady hand were essential to isolating her poised stillness.
Casa Galú’s handcrafted cabanas and open-air lounges provide an ideal hideaway for observing hummingbirds that frequent its landscaped paths. Each sunrise here offers new discoveries, from tiny first light visitors to the vibrant interplay of botanical and birdlife. This image embodies the balance between technical discipline and patient observation that defines conservation photography and invites viewers to explore and protect these fragile coastal ecosystems.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
