The six shots
01
Blue-footed booby courtship
The high-stepping dance. Shoot wide enough to hold both birds and the feet — the behaviour is the picture.
02
Marine iguana on black lava
A prehistoric profile against volcanic rock. Get low; expose for the dark skin against bright surf.
03
Giant tortoise in the highlands
In the green, misty highlands of Santa Cruz. A wider frame that gives the animal its lush world.
04
Sea lion at eye level
On the sand, nose to the lens. Lie flat — their fearlessness lets you make a portrait no telephoto could.
05
Frigatebird's red pouch
The inflated scarlet throat of a displaying male (breeding season). Fill the frame with the colour.
06
The animal in its landscape
A single creature small against volcanic cliffs or a turquoise bay — the wide frame the islands are made for.
Gear: surprisingly short — a 100-400 covers the reach, and a 24-105 or wider does much of the real work because the animals are so close. Bring a wide; leave the 600 at home. A polariser for the water.
Before you go
The settings and kit decisions this trip will ask of you.
Before you goBirds in Flight: The Settings, and Why Yours Are SoftThe exact shutter, aperture, ISO and autofocus for birds in flight — and the two reasons your keeper rate is low. A settings table, plus how to fix a soft file.Read the write-up →Before you goShutter Speed for Birds in Flight, by SpeciesThe right shutter speed for birds in flight depends on the wingbeat, not a single number. A table by bird type, plus what to do when the light runs out.Read the write-up →Before you goExposure for Backlit and Rim-Lit AnimalsHow to meter and expose when the sun is behind your subject: keep the face off the shadow wall, or commit to the rim and the silhouette. A scenario table plus recovery in the raw file.Read the write-up →
Common questions
When is the best time to photograph the Galápagos?
Warm/green Dec–May (calmer seas, courtship); cool/dry Jun–Nov (Humboldt current, marine activity, garúa mist)
What is the best light in the Galápagos?
Early morning and late afternoon; the equatorial midday sun is hard and high
What gear should I take to the Galápagos?
surprisingly short — a 100-400 covers the reach, and a 24-105 or wider does much of the real work because the animals are so close. Bring a wide; leave the 600 at home. A polariser for the water.
Your own brief
Plan your own the Galápagos brief
Ten shots, the conditions, the gear and the questions to ask your guide — built for your dates, your kit and your subjects.
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Upload one frame and get an honest read: what is working, the one fix that matters, and the exact settings to change next time.
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