NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: armando_m on February 20, 2024, 00:06:16
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I've lost count of how many times I've visited this small island off the Pacific coast of Mexico, situated 70 kms NW of San Blas. The island, measuring 1.5 kms in length and 500m in width, serves as a natural reserve for birds.
A group of friends and I hired a tour company that took us on small boats for a three-hour journey on the water. Equipped with tents, food, and knowledgeable guides, we were kept busy during our two-night stay. Besides the diverse bird species, the period from November to March is known as whale season, particularly for humpback whales.
We departed from San Blas on a rainy Friday at 7 AM, arriving at the island just before 10 AM. Despite the gloomy weather and cool temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius at sea level in Mexico, the ride to the island was smooth and fast due to little wind.
Initially, everyone felt a bit down as the rain persisted with no signs of sunlight. By noon, however, the weather cleared, prompting us to explore the other side of the island. Witnessing numerous birds effortlessly gliding through the air with minimal wing movements was mesmerizing, even though we had to return quickly as the rain resumed. In the evening, despite skepticism, we were treated to a beautiful sunset.
The following day, we embarked on a whale-watching adventure. While I had experienced it many times before, this time was exceptional, with whales breaching and showcasing their natural behaviors. Instead of focusing on photography, I decided to simply enjoy the moment and create lasting memories in my mind.
In the afternoon, we marveled at tropical birds nesting on cliffs, gracefully flying back and forth to feed their young. This provided ample opportunities to test my skills in capturing birds in flight.
Waking up to a clear sky the next morning, I rose early to capture the beauty of the Milky Way.
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I had my D800 equipped with a 70-300 zoom and a 20mm f1.8. Unfortunately, I slipped and fell while descending a hill, and the camera landed on a rocky surface. The front of the 70-300 lens now has a noticeable ding, preventing me from mounting a filter. Additionally, the on-off switch has lost the middle click; it now directly activates the back screen showing the settings. Fortunately, everything else appears to be unaffected.
I wonder how the Fuji X-T3 would have fared in a similar fall.
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Sorry to hear about it but...what a place. The quality and variety of the images puts the island on perspective. Thanks a lot for sharing it. More, please, if you feel like it? and the camera is still working ;)
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What a beautiful place! And how well you captured both the island and its inhabitants.
Your fall was extremely unfortunate but hopefully a capable technician will be able to repair your camera?
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Paco and Ann, thanks
I have been considering bringing the D800 for some love, the rubber grips feel loose, and now has the damage from the fall, I was surprised it continued to work without a problem.
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I did not take that many photos and I still need to process them , anyway here are a few more
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Link to a facebook video of a whale breaching close to one of the boats, this was on Saturday and I was on a diferent boat ! ( not my video )
https://fb.watch/qjIQFO8cA3/
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Beautiful images, Armando, what a place!
Sorry about your mishap, at least it sounds like you did not need a repair yourself - that is the important thing.
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That's a great place, Armando, thanks for the story and sharing these gorgeous pictures.
Sorry to hear about your lens, hopefully full working still?
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A very fine series Armando!
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Indeed! Very enjoyable travel images ;)
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Beautiful images, Armando, what a place!
Sorry about your mishap, at least it sounds like you did not need a repair yourself - that is the important thing.
Yes I'm ok :)
and this time around given the rain and cooler temperatures even the pesky little mosquitos called "jejenes" were not around
Thanks everyone
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Wonderful photographs, Armando!
Thank you for sharing them and the story.
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beautiful island and pictures of it
is this still the D800, you repaired/glued yourself around the mount?
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Looks like a photographer's heaven!
Sorry about the zoom, but good to know you are OK. Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks for sharing Armando.
By the look of the map, Isla Isabel is too small to even show up!
I decided to simply enjoy the moment and create lasting memories in my mind.
What a wonderful intention to set.
I think it worked too. I love both the landscapes and the wildlife shots.
Despite having 300mm available, some of the more wide-angle shots of the birds work really well and showcase them in their environment.
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beautiful island and pictures of it
is this still the D800, you repaired/glued yourself around the mount?
LOL, good memory!
Yes the same one
Thanks everyone for your comments