Captain's Blog

Okay!!! Time to play with the new lenses… I start out with my trusty 24-70mm2.8L… I take all the new toys to the Parque Cervantes in the middle of David, Panama

Nora in the Park… Pretty girl… Oh… by the way… I gave her an engagement ring…

Okay… this 100mm macro lens is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Wow… that´s fast… did I mention that this is quickly becoming one of my favorite lenses???

a shot with the 50mm…

back to the 100mm macro and a shot of some sweetpeas…

oh absolutely… there are no flowers or insects safe anymore from my lens…

Okay… So, I guess I´ve finally graduated from the back yard. But then again, the back yard is a relative term. I´ve taken the camera on the road for some local rivers and streams. Panama has some great rivers and streams.

This is the closest nice stream to the house.

The colors and greenery are so lush.

Now we´re getting into some bigger rivers. This river got so forceful, that it almost removed the bridge. One side of the Pan-American highway is closed at this bridge until it is replaced.

Though, the bridge is still open for foot/horse traffic.

Almost makes you want to go for a little dip…

The Google Earth links for the streams for David, Panama  are here, here and here

This is the rainy season here in Panama, so finding a sunny day is challenging. I woke up and noticed the bright sun and decided to get that shot of the waterfall that I’ve been wanting. I drive to Chiriqui and pull up to this old rock road. I speak to the old man living in the shack at the gate and ask him if the road will lead me to a better picture of the waterfall, and if so, for permission. He says yep, but you will need to do it on foot or horseback. I don’t have a horse handy, so I do it by foot.

That´s the waterfall in the background. And, this is the best that this road gets…

I’m figuring maybe 30 minutes, a few shots, and then back early for some breakfast. Five hours later, after crossing 3 roaring streams knee deep, and climbing what could only be described as a goat trail with full backpack of gear (laptop, 2 cameras, 3 lenses, 1 tripod, 1 monopod, underwater housing for my G7, etc…). I realize that I’m not gonna get that shot that I was looking for (frontal shot with vapor cloud). Instead, I’m at the top of the waterfall, and have taken more than 300 pictures.

This is the sound of the rainforest.

I stumbled into this group of Howler monkeys along the way (note about monkeys: don’t stand under them, they take great delight in peeing on you). Busted out my 70-200 and added the 2x multiplier and stressed my light aluminum tripod for these shots.

Nice shot of a very pregnant mom and baby.

The gate before you get to the waterfall.

This is pretty close to the top of the waterfall.

The tiny river that feeds this waterfall.

And, be very careful of your step.  It´s a pretty long drop…

What an amazing view.

Not exactly what I had in mind when I began this journey, but well worth the hike.

This is the gear that I carried up the hill.  It´s much heavier than it looks…

So…   let´s take the new camera into the back yard and learn something.  Put on the 70-200 2.8L lens with a 2x extender on a tripod and let her rip…

I didn´t actually see the white butterfly while I was shooting the pic.  When I moved to the house, I planted every color of Bougainvilla that I could find.  They are so beautiful.

Just love the flowers and the colors.

Okay…  someone stop me when I’ve posted too many pics of the flowers…

So… I get handed a personal invitation to the bartenders contest at the Fridays in David. I figured, with the new camera, I´d put on the ef-s 10-22mm lens and use the flash and monopod and see what this thing will do. Amazing shots, stopping the motion and can even read the print on the bottles. This Canon 20D is a bit old, but still better than my abilities.

Little Orine gets things going with some throwing the bottles into the air. I think too many of them have watched “Cocktail”.

Freddy get 2 bottles spinning in mid air… Don´t try this at home folks… these guys are professionals.

Vanni steps up to the plate and puts her bottles in the air.

This reminds me of that “snoopy happy dance” picture. Vanni is having too much fun here.

Another bottle toss…

If you´re gonna do this… do it right… jump on the bar to finish up your routine. Needless to say, Vanni won the contest. And, went on to win the bartender contest for the country also in Panama City. That’s easy to do when you enjoy your job.

And, the winners circle mandatory beer spray… I think everyone got some of that…

The Google Earth link for TGIFridays in David, Panama is here.