Located in the biogeographical Chocó, San Cipriano hides incredible jewels of nature in the middle of its beautiful rivers and pristine trails. On this occasion we will have the opportunity to explore this beautiful natural reserve day and night with two of the best herpetologists and photographers of nature in Colombia, learning about techniques in close-up photography and lighting of poisonous amphibians, lizards and snakes.
This adventure begins through indigenous transport called “Brujitas”, which take advantage of the old Colombian railroad tracks to drive large platforms moved by motorcycles where we will transport ourselves to reach the entrance of the San Cipriano natural reserve to begin our photography workshop and have an immersive experience in nature.
In this photography workshop we will have the opportunity to delve into the world of macrophotography of species, where we will learn many of the techniques of macrophotography, artificial lighting, in situ photography to capture the essence of many of the species of herps that inhabit the area, previously identified thanks to the visual acuity of our biologist and herpetologist workshop leaders.
Would you like to learn how to take amazing snake photos? Then this workshop focused on herps in the biogeographic Chocó is for you, welcome to the adventure!
Macro Lens (90 mm – 105 mm). A high-quality macro lens is essential for capturing the intricate details of small subjects, such as the vibrant patterns of poison dart frogs. It allows you to get close enough to fill the frame while maintaining sharpness and clarity.
Wide-Angle Macro Lens (15 mm). A 15 mm wide-angle macro lens is perfect for creating environmental portraits that feature both the subject and its natural habitat. This lens helps highlight the unique surroundings, adding depth and context to your shots.
External Flash. Portable off-camera flashes are ideal for delivering controlled lighting in the low-light conditions of tropical forests. They enhance the vivid colors of amphibians without disturbing their natural behavior, making each shot more impactful.
Wireless Flash Triggers. Wireless transmitters allow you to use off-camera flash setups, offering greater creative control over light direction and intensity. This is particularly useful in uneven lighting conditions and dense jungle environments.
Flash Diffuser. Essential for softening harsh light and minimizing reflections on the moist skin of amphibians. Diffusers ensure even, natural-looking lighting that highlights fine textures without overpowering the subject.
Portable Reflector. Compact and foldable, reflectors help bounce light onto the subject, providing additional fill light in shaded or low-light conditions. They enhance detail and color without the need for extra flash units.
Extension Tubes. Extension tubes increase your lens magnification, allowing for more precise focus on very small details. They are a cost-effective way to expand your macro capabilities without investing in new lenses.
One of the best amphibian, reptile and wildlife photographers in Colombia. He leads workshops and photographic tours. He is a biologist and expert in macro-photography, full-time nature photographer and leading tour guide in Colombia.
He has published 14 scientific articles contributing to the knowledge and conservation of various species in Colombia. His photographic work has taken him to explore every corner of the country. His photos have been featured in magazines such as Enfoque Visual, RowZine, and the Catalog of Amphibians and Reptiles of Colombia, among others. He won the environmental advocacy category in the Agenda del Mar photography competition (2022). He uses photography and biology as tools to promote conservation through various initiatives, contributing to a deeper understanding of species’ behaviors and their interactions with ecosystems. These two passions have allowed him to offer a unique perspective on the hidden and unknown world beneath the mysterious landscapes of Colombia’s mountains and plains, aiming to create a bridge between memory and nature.
Day 1 | October 10 | Cali (Valle del Cauca) | Start of the photography workshop
Our starting point will be the city of Cali, from where we will go to the San Cipriano Natural Reserve on a 3-hour tour. There we will arrive at the farmhouse to begin our tour on the “Brujitas”, a native transport to access the San Cipriano nature reserve, here, we will settle into our rooms, have lunch and then begin our exciting Photography Workshop. We will begin with a theoretical talk by Jhonattan Vanegas to introduce the workshop, followed by theoretical presentations on photographic composition and after this, the flash and artificial light management workshop.
Afterwards, we will enjoy a typical meal of the Afro-Colombian culture, we will give way to the night tour in search of Herps, we will take photography in situ, then we will return to rest and recharge our batteries.
Day 2 | October 11 | San Cipriano | Scientific photography workshop and field outings
On the second day of our photography workshop we will start with breakfast at 8:00 in the morning so that you can rest and sleep a little more at night, after breakfast we will begin our theoretical photographic workshop of scientific photography, where we will learn about how to take photographs of herps on black and white backgrounds and then we will go in search of species to practice this photography.
At noon we will return to the lodge for lunch where we will rest a little to continue our search for herps until the end of the afternoon. At night, after a typical dinner, we will begin our night tour where we will find other types of species not seen during the day, then we will proceed to rest and prepare for our third day of adventure and photography.
Día 3 | Octubre 12 | San Cipriano | Herping tour between trails
We will start our day with an energizing breakfast that will give us the impetus for a day full of herping and photography, on this occasion we will have a full field day, where it will be the perfect opportunity for a more extensive search for species, having the opportunity to have incredible photographs, it is the ideal time for you to clarify all your technical doubts with the workshop leaders and thus take your photography to the next level, then at noon we will return to the hostel where we will have a typical lunch while we rest a little and share the experiences of the morning.
After a short break, we’ll begin our afternoon hike along the pristine trails of San Cipriano, focusing on venomous species for the remainder of the day. In the evening, we’ll start our final night walk through San Cipriano, aiming to cover the area’s most distinctive species so that you can capture the greatest variety of species photography during your herpetology workshop.
Day 4 | October 13 | San Cipriano | End of the photography workshop
We will begin our last day in San Cipriano with an excellent breakfast and a photographic discussion while we share the photographic experience of the previous day. After clarifying some doubts as a group, we will begin our last tour in the morning to spot species and after lunch we will make our way back to the city of Cali, here we will end our photographic experience in the middle of one of the best preserved natural reserves in Colombia and say goodbye until our next adventure.
OUR WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
OUR WORKSHOP DOES NOT INCLUDE:
We will begin an immersive photographic adventure in nature where you will discover and tell your version of your story through your photographs. We have some recommendations that will be very useful when choosing your equipment depending on the approach you want to explore. We want to travel comfortably and protect our equipment. We’ll give you some tips on what to keep in mind.
keeeping is passion for nature, love for photography.
Accommodation
Complete Feeding
Local Guides
Hydration
Photography Lessons
Day and Night Tours
Snacks
Souvenir
Health Insurance
Ground Transport
We will be happy to talk to you and clarify all your doubts about your next photographic experience, select one of our customer service lines, we will answer you as soon as possible.
Each adventure is unique and so is its level of difficulty. Visit our blog to learn how we classify the physical intensity of our tours and find the one that’s right for you.
$ 580
Keeping Nature Tours is a tour operator that promotes photography, nature tourism, and wildlife observation with the goal of helping to conserve the most threatened ecosystems, which are affected by deforestation, lack of awareness about species, or cultural beliefs.
Through photography and nature tourism, we can showcase the most beautiful side of Colombia, creating new opportunities for the remote communities in our country.
FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS
Copyright 2023 © Keeping Nature Tours
