The Rainforest Experience

****Another blog update from Wild Lens volunteer Virginia Schutte, who is working in Panama right now studying mangrove forest ecosystems.****

I saw a thing in the trees last night as I was walking home. Can you spot it?

It’s a toucan! Just to the right of the photo’s center.

Most of the action in a rainforest happens above the ground, in the forest canopy. This is especially true of the staple tourist attractions: monkeys, birds, and sloths are all more likely to be above you than on the ground. This means that most photos you take are likely to be terrible. At least with a digital camera you don’t develop your film only to discover this trend- you can see right away that your pictures are rubbish!

If you visit the tropics and have a chance to somehow get up in the canopy, it will probably be worth the effort. Around Panama City, there are canopy walks through the trees, cranes that lift you up in a bucket, a gondola, and several observation towers.

Or you could rent a multi-story apartment right next to a wildlife refuge, like me! Photos by Virginia Schutte.