This photograph captures a male Golden-collared Manakin (Manacus vitellinus) perched slightly above eye level on a rain-slick branch in the misty lowland rainforest of Capurganá, Chocó, Colombia. The bird’s vivid yellow collar and olive-green body contrast sharply with its deep black wings and cap, while early dawn light filtering through dense foliage lends a soft, painterly quality to the background.
Technical execution was critical under these challenging conditions. I used a Canon EOS R5 with the RF 800mm f/11 lens and a 1.4× extender, achieving an effective focal length of 1120mm. The extender fixed the aperture at f/16, so I set ISO to 3200 to lift detail from the canopy’s deep shadows. The camera selected a shutter speed of 1/125 second—fast enough to freeze the manakin’s subtle movements while shooting handheld at that distance. A firm stance, controlled breathing, and precise focusing on the curve of the crest and feather textures were essential to render clarity and minimize noise.
Golden-collared Manakins are renowned for their elaborate courtship displays—males hopping, wing-snapping, and sliding moonwalk–style within communal leks. Yet in this rare moment of stillness, the bird’s quiet poise reveals another facet of its behavior. This image reflects my commitment to conservation photography: patient fieldcraft, technical discipline, and a desire to illuminate the hidden wonders of tropical ecosystems.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
