The island Borneo affords an unparalleled alternative for wildlife photographers to seize the distinctive biodiversity of one of many world’s most iconic rainforests.
Borneo holds roughly 6% of the world’s biodiversity on solely about 1% of the planet’s land, with over 15,000 plant species, 220 mammal species (together with 44 which can be endemic), and greater than 420 chicken species.
Nonetheless, a lot of Brneo’s biodiversity is below risk from deforestation and different human actions, making conservation efforts essential.
By planning a shot checklist across the essential function of Borneo’s wildlife—notably its orangutans—you possibly can inform a compelling visible conservation story in regards to the significance of its animal species to the ecosystem and native communities.
Shot 1: Orangutans in Their Pure Habitat: Large Pictures of the Cover
Orangutans are the celebs of the Borneo rainforest, and capturing them of their pure habitat is essential.
These large pictures can emphasize the huge, towering bushes of the lowland rainforests, notably in Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the place younger orangutans study survival abilities earlier than returning to the wild. Within the large pictures, goal to make the orangutans small compared to the bushes to focus on the grandeur of their habitat and the dimensions of the ecosystem they inhabit.
These pictures ought to give viewers a way of the orangutan’s surroundings and their dependence on the cover. Orangutans hardly ever descend from the bushes, so large pictures showcasing the dense, towering forest cover with an orangutan nestled among the many branches present essential context for his or her arboreal way of life.
- Location: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Kinabatangan River
- Picture Purpose: Showcase the orangutan’s surroundings through the use of a wide-angle lens to seize the forest cover. Set your aperture to f/8 or increased to keep up depth of discipline, making certain the orangutan and its surroundings are in focus.
- Conservation Connection: Emphasizes the significance of preserving the habitat that orangutans depend on for meals, shelter and safety. Orangutans are critically endangered, with habitat loss from deforestation being their largest risk. By showcasing their pure habitat, you possibly can spotlight the pressing want for rainforest conservation efforts.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
Shot 2: Shut-Up of Orangutans Feeding: Medium and Tight Pictures
Orangutans are important seed dispersers within the forest, and capturing this habits is necessary for illustrating their ecological function. Zoom in to catch the detailed motion of an orangutan consuming, particularly if it’s discarding seeds—a habits that helps regenerate the rainforest.
Tight pictures ought to present the feel of their fur, their dexterous fingers, and the fruits they’re consuming. These pictures will emphasize their key function within the ecosystem, as orangutans assist to unfold seeds all through the forest ground, making certain plant biodiversity.
- Location: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Danum Valley Conservation Space
- Picture Purpose: Use medium and tight zoom lenses to seize the intricacies of feeding habits and the connection between orangutans and the fruits they eat. A focal size of 200-400mm is right for isolating the topic whereas sustaining sufficient distance to keep away from disturbing them. Goal for a quick shutter pace to freeze movement whereas the orangutan is actively consuming.
- Conservation Connection: Reinforce the orangutan’s function as a keystone species in sustaining the well being of the rainforest. With out orangutans, many plant species in Borneo would lose their major technique of seed dispersal, affecting all the forest ecosystem.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
Shot 3: Distinctive Wildlife Alongside the Kinabatangan River: Proboscis Monkeys within the Bushes
The Kinabatangan River is dwelling to a big selection of wildlife, together with the distinctive proboscis monkeys, that are endemic to Borneo. As you cruise alongside the river, search for alternatives to seize these monkeys excessive within the bushes, their exaggerated noses including character to the body.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
Take into account taking pictures at dawn or sundown to wash the scene in golden mild, providing a heat distinction to the greenery of the rainforest.
Proboscis monkeys are sometimes seen in massive social teams, making for dynamic pictures that present each the person traits of the monkeys and their interactions inside their troop. These pictures can function a further story ingredient to enhance your orangutan focus, showcasing Borneo’s total biodiversity.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
- Location: Kinabatangan River
- Picture Purpose: Seize the distinctive options of proboscis monkeys with a medium lens whereas exhibiting them interacting in teams. To boost colour distinction, modify your white steadiness for heat tones when taking pictures at golden hour. A lens within the 70-200mm vary is ideal for capturing group dynamics and expressions whereas sustaining distance.
- Conservation Connection: Spotlight Borneo’s distinctive species and the significance of preserving the riverine ecosystems that assist them. Proboscis monkeys depend on the well being of those ecosystems, that are more and more threatened by deforestation and palm oil plantations.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
Shot 4: Portrait of a Pygmy Elephant: Shut-Up of an Iconic Species
Borneo is dwelling to the endangered pygmy elephant, and getting a close-up portrait of this uncommon species could be a spotlight of your journey. Whereas cruising the Kinabatangan River or exploring the Danum Valley, hold your digital camera prepared for encounters with these light giants. Portraits ought to deal with the elephant’s eyes, tusks, and pores and skin texture, creating an intimate connection between the viewer and this endangered species.
Capturing a picture of a mom elephant along with her calf can add one other layer of emotional affect, showcasing the familial bonds inside elephant teams. This additionally reinforces the conservation message, as pygmy elephants face important threats from habitat loss and human-wildlife battle.
- Location: Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley Conservation Space
- Picture Purpose: Use a good zoom lens to seize an intimate portrait, specializing in the feel and particulars of the elephant. Set your aperture to round f/4 to create a shallow depth of discipline, making certain the elephant’s face is sharp whereas the background is softly blurred. This isolates the topic and provides emotional affect.
- Conservation Connection: Increase consciousness of the plight of Borneo’s pygmy elephants and their battle in opposition to habitat encroachment. Pygmy elephants are categorised as endangered, with fewer than 1,500 left within the wild.
Shot 5: Rainforest Flora and Native Fruits: Large and Shut-Up Pictures
The tropical vegetation and flowers of Borneo’s rainforests are vibrant and numerous, making them supreme topics for large pictures of the forest ground or close-ups of particular person vegetation. Deal with capturing the colourful and complicated particulars of rainforest flowers, corresponding to orchids, that are plentiful in Danum Valley. These flowers play an important function within the ecosystem and are sometimes neglected in wildlife pictures.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief demonstrates sustainable agriculture. Photographed by © Courtroom Whelan
Along with wild vegetation, native fruits present in Borneo’s markets provide a human connection to the rainforest. Capturing the fruits—corresponding to durian, mangosteen, or rambutan—can illustrate the connection between the forest and the livelihoods of native communities. Including a human ingredient, corresponding to a market vendor or an individual consuming fruit, will broaden the narrative and tie human life to the rainforest.
Nat Hab Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
- Location: Danum Valley, Native Markets in Sandakan
- Picture Purpose: Seize each wild rainforest vegetation and fruits in native markets, specializing in texture and colour. Incorporate people the place attainable. A macro lens could be useful to get close-up particulars of the intricate textures of flowers and fruits.
- Conservation Connection: Exhibit how people depend on the forest for meals and the way the well being of the rainforest helps native economies. Many fruits offered in native markets are immediately linked to rainforest biodiversity.
Nat Hab visitor appears as much as the cover. Photographed by Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
Shot 6: Orangutans and Their Offspring: Emotional Reference to Tight Portraits
Photographing orangutans with their offspring gives not solely a heartwarming picture but additionally a robust message in regards to the significance of defending these weak animals. Within the wild, mom orangutans stick with their younger for as much as eight years, educating them important survival abilities.
Capturing this bond with close-up pictures of mom and baby will resonate with viewers, fostering a connection that may inspire motion towards conservation efforts.
- Location: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Kinabatangan River
- Picture Purpose: Use a good zoom lens to deal with the emotional bond between orangutan moms and their younger. A focal size of 300mm or increased will will let you seize intimate expressions whereas sustaining distance. Take into account taking pictures in smooth mild to emphasise the light interplay between mom and baby.
- Conservation Connection: Spotlight the vulnerability of younger orangutans and the need of defending their habitat for future generations. Orangutans are critically endangered, with their inhabitants lowering as a result of unlawful logging, palm oil plantations, and looking.
© Brad Josephs
Crafting a Conservation Narrative
Making a shot checklist that encompasses a variety of wildlife, flora, and human components lets you seize and share a compelling conservation story throughout a Borneo Wildlife Picture Expedition. Whether or not you deal with orangutans as keystone species or discover the interconnection between wildlife and native communities, every shot can play a job in educating and galvanizing conservation motion.
Nat Hab visitors. Photographed by Expedition Chief © Courtroom Whelan
Need to get began in conservation pictures? Nat Hab Expedition Chief and Chief Sustainability Officer Courtroom Whelan emphasizes,
“To me, the important thing to success is aiming for easy tales that you just join with. Might you create a photograph essay on the significance of orangutans to the ecosystem? That is completely conservation-focused and accomplishes the objective of teaching and motivating motion on a species you’re more likely to see.”
With this shot checklist and a deeper understanding of Borneo’s wildlife, landscapes, and conservation challenges, you’ll be able to seize iconic images that showcase Borneo’s magnificence and assist defend it,and encourage others to guard it too.
Need to know extra about Borneo and journey there?
Whether or not you’re getting ready in your upcoming Borneo Journey or simply need to study extra about this lush island, Nat Hab has bought you lined. Try this Know Earlier than You Go Useful resource web page for an array of useful assets, from wildlife and climate guides to forcing first-hand accounts written by Nat Hab vacationers and employees. You’ll particularly need to take a look at the orangutan picture ideas!
Nat Hab Expedition Chief beside proboscis monkey. Photographed by information © Bedley Asun
