This image features the Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus), a master of camouflage, perched on a tree stump in the mountains above San Pablo de Borbur, Boyacá, Colombia. The shot was taken just after sunset, and the bird had opened its eyes, preparing to hunt for the night. Capturing this scene in near-darkness presented a significant technical challenge, requiring me to push my equipment to its limits to preserve both detail and atmosphere.
I used my Canon R5 paired with the RF 800mm f/11 lens, which provided a portable solution for shooting at such a long focal length in low light. Shooting wide open at f/11, I had to rely on the camera's in-body image stabilization to keep the shot steady, especially given the slow shutter speed of 1/15 of a second. Any faster, and I would have missed the subtle lighting; any slower, and I risked more motion blur. The slight blur in the image adds a touch of movement, capturing the moment the bird was about to take flight for its nocturnal hunt.
To maintain detail while working in dim conditions, I pushed the ISO to 6400. I decided against raising the ISO further to 12800, as I wanted to retain the natural texture of the bird’s feathers and avoid too much noise in the shadows. This balance between high ISO performance and the need to keep the image clean made the Canon R5 an invaluable tool in this situation.
This was by far the most challenging shot of my trip, not only due to the lighting conditions but also because of the Potoo’s incredible ability to blend into its surroundings. Its mottled brown and gray feathers mimic the bark of the tree stump so well that, without its large, yellow eyes open, the bird is almost invisible.
©2023 Adam Rainoff Photographer
