Galapagos Islands Animals Like Nowhere Else on Earth
- Stuart F. James
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
My journey to the Galapagos Islands is something I will always remember. It was a unique and extraordinary experience, particularly as I was refining my photography skills during that period. I learned that the Galapagos Islands' animals are unlike any others on Earth.
I had always dreamed of visiting the Galapagos Islands, but when I finally went about 16 years ago, I never expected it to happen at that stage of my life. My mother-in-law, who had previously traveled to Russia and Ireland with my wife, suggested one day that my wife, my daughter, and I, along with her, take a trip. She said we could choose any destination in the world. She mentioned that she had traveled a lot with Vicki and now wanted to travel with all three of us, taking us wherever we wanted to go.
Naturally, a discussion ensued. My wife was interested in river cruises across Europe. Meanwhile, my daughter and I considered various destinations, from Europe to Africa, and ultimately landed on a surprising option—the Galapagos Islands. It's important to note that my mother-in-law was 89 at the time.
My daughter Hadley and I talked about our travel plans and chose the Galapagos Islands as our destination. The decision was two to one, with my wife being outvoted. Nonetheless, she didn't have strong objections, and when we mentioned the Galapagos Islands to my mother-in-law, she immediately decided to join us.
Subsequently, my mother-in-law attended a medical checkup. She informed her doctor of her intention to visit the Galapagos Islands, and he was visibly surprised. To sum up, my mother-in-law made the trip to the Galapagos Islands, and we all celebrated Christmas there.
So, how does this relate to photography? I had my Nikon D200 for a few years, using it to delve into digital photography. Although the technology is older compared to today's cameras, I must admit that the Nikon was an excellent camera and ideal for capturing the Galapagos adventure.
We embarked on a small Galapagos cruise, accompanied by a dedicated guide who was with us for most of the journey. During our wildlife hikes, we were able to approach the animals within six feet to observe them closely. At times, I was fortunate to observe behaviors in animals that were entirely unforeseen. The closeness to the animals was truly remarkable, as illustrated by the seal and crab in the pictures below.
As I was taking photos on the beach, I observed a seal lounging on the rocks with a Sally Lightfoot crab scurrying in front of it. I was surprised, anticipating that the seal might catch and eat the crab. However, despite what this photo may suggest, the seal ignored the crab, allowing it to pass by cautiously. I later learned that seals do not consume Sally Lightfoot crabs. Click here to see the crab and seal encounter at PhotoVerse.
Next, we have the birds, with the blue-footed booby among the most renowned. While I was taking pictures of the boobies, they showed no fear, allowing me the chance to capture the stunning beauty of the Galapagos.
Marine iguanas are frequently found on the Galapagos Islands. They swim in the ocean to eat, then return to land to sunbathe, resembling sun worshippers or creatures from another planet seeking their home world.
I captured these photographs as I explored new methods in composition, exposure, f-stops, and shutter speeds. I gained insights into lighting, refined my composition skills, and learned to respect and coexist as a photographer within the wildlife environment.
This life experience altered my view of the natural world. My understanding of the harmony between humans and wildlife on Earth deepened. This led to greater respect for the wild environment around me, which, in turn, nurtured my love for wildlife and for photographing it.
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