GALÁPAGOS tortoise shells are highly reflective, so For photographers, the Galápagos Islands are a treasure
GALÁPAGOS tortoise shells are highly reflective, so By Frank Binder
Globe correspondent /
December 8, 2012
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Most of the areas where tortoises live in the wild are off-limits to visitors. The tortoises you see are likely to be at ecotourism farms or the Charles Darwin Research Station on Isabella Island. The farm tortoises are kept within large forested areas that visitors are allowed to enter. They are slow-moving and getting good images is not difficult. Their shells are highly reflective so the best images are those taken in total shade or overcast conditions. Photographing them while they are eating can yield terrific results.
SEA LIONS
The adults are active and expressive and the pups are incredibly cute. While you will see them on virtually every seashore on the islands, the best place to photograph them is in Gardner Bay on Espanola Island late in the day. The day I was there we counted 339 sea lions on a pristine white sand beach. I photographed pups with mothers, braying males, adults snapping at each other while jockeying to get the best positions, and wide-angle shots with animals in the foreground.
Frank Binder can be reached at fbinder@msn.com. His photos can be seen at www.chasing-the-light.com.
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