Genovesa Island
Imagine waking at sunrise and finding yourself in the center of an ancient caldera. Using directional markers as a guide, the Polaris had cruised through an underwater channel at the narrow entrance of the bay. Photographers and early risers awoke for a quick breakfast and disembarked onto a coral beach of Genovesa Island.
Frigate birds and Red-footed boobies filled the sky and dotted the scrubby trees. The stage was set for an exciting day of photography for the participants of the Photo Expedition. We aimed our cameras on the rare Lava Gull, nesting Red-footed boobies and juvenile Great Frigate birds waiting for their next meal. We observed a cactus finch feeding on the fruit of an Opuntia cactus and a recently born sea lion pup frolicking with its mother on the beach. As the day heated up, some donned wetsuits, some sea kayaked and others caught up on much needed rest.
After lunch, the photo expedition group met to discuss digital photographic techniques and began editing images to share on the final night of our trip. At 3 p.m. we boarded Zodiacs again for a cruise along the cliffs searching for Red-billed tropic birds as we attempted to photograph their speedy flight. Their raucous calls alerted us to their approach. Photographing the tropic birds in flight was a challenge for our auto focus lenses and the most difficult subject of the week. We then landed on a rocky shoreline and ascended Prince Phillip’s Steps to a moonlike landscape of Palo Santo forest bearing the nests of Nazca and Red-footed boobies. We traversed over a lava shelf to search for the resident short-eared owl, finally discovering two of these predatory birds.
With the sun setting over the bay, we were welcomed back aboard the Polaris to cocktails and an outdoor BBQ on the teak deck.
We never could have imagined the wonderful photographic opportunities the day held for us. It was another extraordinary day in the Galápagos Islands.
Imagine waking at sunrise and finding yourself in the center of an ancient caldera. Using directional markers as a guide, the Polaris had cruised through an underwater channel at the narrow entrance of the bay. Photographers and early risers awoke for a quick breakfast and disembarked onto a coral beach of Genovesa Island.
Frigate birds and Red-footed boobies filled the sky and dotted the scrubby trees. The stage was set for an exciting day of photography for the participants of the Photo Expedition. We aimed our cameras on the rare Lava Gull, nesting Red-footed boobies and juvenile Great Frigate birds waiting for their next meal. We observed a cactus finch feeding on the fruit of an Opuntia cactus and a recently born sea lion pup frolicking with its mother on the beach. As the day heated up, some donned wetsuits, some sea kayaked and others caught up on much needed rest.
After lunch, the photo expedition group met to discuss digital photographic techniques and began editing images to share on the final night of our trip. At 3 p.m. we boarded Zodiacs again for a cruise along the cliffs searching for Red-billed tropic birds as we attempted to photograph their speedy flight. Their raucous calls alerted us to their approach. Photographing the tropic birds in flight was a challenge for our auto focus lenses and the most difficult subject of the week. We then landed on a rocky shoreline and ascended Prince Phillip’s Steps to a moonlike landscape of Palo Santo forest bearing the nests of Nazca and Red-footed boobies. We traversed over a lava shelf to search for the resident short-eared owl, finally discovering two of these predatory birds.
With the sun setting over the bay, we were welcomed back aboard the Polaris to cocktails and an outdoor BBQ on the teak deck.
We never could have imagined the wonderful photographic opportunities the day held for us. It was another extraordinary day in the Galápagos Islands.
