This image of a male Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) was taken in the mid-elevation cloud forests surrounding La Minga Ecolodge in Dapa, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Perched quietly on a moss-covered branch, the bird appeared just as the morning light filtered through the dense canopy. The surrounding air was cool and misty, softening the background into a smooth blend of greens and grays, allowing the bird’s vibrant plumage to take center stage.
The barbet’s crimson head glowed vividly in the diffused light, contrasting beautifully with a crisp white throat, rich emerald green back, and orange-yellow belly. The composition came together in a fleeting moment—just long enough to catch a perfect head angle and a clean catchlight in the eye before the bird disappeared into the foliage. Capturing this image required a patient approach and quick reaction in a dynamic and low-light environment.
I used the Canon EOS R5 with the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM lens. The shot was taken handheld at 1/250 second, f/6.7, ISO 800, with the lens fully extended to 500mm. The stabilization built into the lens was critical, as the barbet was high in the mid-canopy, and I had no opportunity to use a tripod or monopod. The exposure settings were chosen to maintain feather detail across a wide dynamic range while balancing motion control and available light under heavy forest cover.
The Canon EOS R5’s autofocus system performed reliably, tracking through patches of foliage and locking on to the bird’s eye quickly. This photo is a strong example of how high-performance gear paired with field awareness can yield sharp, vibrant results even in difficult conditions. It also reflects my approach as a conservation-focused photographer—using the camera not just to document, but to tell the story of species that depend on intact habitats like the cloud forests of Colombia.
©2025 Adam Rainoff Photographer
