29/05/2025
The Golden-collared Manakin (Manacus vitellinus) greeted me at first light in the oceanfront garden of Casa Galú, just steps from Capurganá’s town center on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. As the dawn mist receded, I discovered a female perched on a slender heliconia bract, her olive-green plumage and golden throat collar glowing against a tapestry of palms and tropical blooms. The gentle Caribbean breeze carried the distant calls of howler monkeys and the hum of other hummingbirds, creating a moment suspended between sea and forest.
I approached with reverence, raising my Canon EOS R5 fitted with an RF 800mm f/11 lens and 1.4× extender for a total effective reach of 1120mm. The extender fixed my aperture at f/16, so I set ISO 3200 to lift shadow detail beneath the canopy. When the camera chose a 1/20-second shutter speed, I focused on steady breathing and precise timing to freeze her delicate pose. Each frame captured the subtle iridescence of her throat and the fine textures of her feathers without disturbing her tranquil rhythm.
Casa Galú’s handcrafted cabanas and open-air lounges blend luxury with untamed beauty. Between sunrise explorations and coffee on the breezy terrace, I wandered winding paths lined with orchids and ferns, camera in hand, listening as the waves whispered just beyond the palms. This female’s regular visits reminded me how wildlife and hospitality can coexist in harmony—and why I dedicate my work to conservation photography.
©2022 Adam Rainoff Photographer
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