When most people think of the Caribbean, they probably think of sipping a cool beverage on a beautiful beach somewhere while soaking up the sun. And for sure, that is a big part of it. However, the Caribbean has much more to offer than just relaxing on the seashore. Since the weather is getting colder here in the Northern Hemisphere, I thought the warmer climates might be a great place to explore for some photo adventures. I also threw in Costa Rica since it borders the Caribbean Sea to the east. So here are my “Top 5 Caribbean Photo Adventures” in short!
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is truly a photographer’s dream come true, whether it is the beaches, volcanoes, rivers, jungles or the exotic flora & fauna, Costa Rica has it all with some of the friendliest people we have ever met. There are only a handful of destinations around the world where the prospect of animal interaction is central to the visit, and Costa Rica is certainly one of them. We photographed 2-toed sloths, frogs, alligators, birds, jaguars and chased down and came eye-to-eye with a family of howler monkeys eating breakfast under the rainforest canopy. It was fabulous and we will certainly go back to capture more of Costa Rica’s beautiful landscape and the creatures that inhabit it. Most of the photos were taken with my 24-105mm, 70-200mm and 16-35mm lens; in AV mode; 1/125 sec., f/11 with an ISO 100.
Cuba’s Old Havana
Old Havana is a city rich with history and has a great 50s vibe to it with its historic cars lining the colourful streets. Old Havana is not only a photographic paradise for street photography but around every corner there was something new and exciting to photograph. Impressive buildings are popping up around every corner, everything from Spanish colonial to Italian baroque to neo-classical to Art Deco.
When travelling to Old Havana you must allow yourself to get lost in the maze of streets. That is when the photo magic starts to happen and you will be surprised at what you find. Havana with its street grid system is perfect for this. If you get lost, you can always hop on the 3-wheeled taxi bikes and for a few dollars they will take you back to wherever you want to go.
The people also are very friendly there and we were welcomed wherever we went. Looking back, it was really the people that made this trip special for us and we thank them for that. The photos were primarily taken with my 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 with an ISO setting of 100.
Aruba
Aruba is one of the A-B-C islands comprising the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. From the first moment I saw the landscapes of Aruba, I knew we were in for something special. We hired a local guide and visited virtually undiscovered places in Aruba. On the isolated north-western tip of the island, you will find some of the most spectacular scenery, with expansive sand dunes sitting in the view of the old stone lighthouse. On the rugged southeast coast of Aruba near the village of Seroe, you can find wonderful natural bridges carved up by the sea. Eagle beach cannot be missed with its famous Divi-Divi tree and beautiful sands. Arikok National Park is a 7900-acre natural park, located at the north-eastern part of Aruba with fabulous caves you can explore. And when you are ready to relax, just head to Moomba beach, a great place to have a drink as you enjoy the sunset. Most photos were taken with my 16-35mm, 70-200mm and 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 and ISO setting of 100.
Dominica
Dominica is an unspoiled natural landscape just begging to be explored. There are over 6,000 species of flora and 7,000 species of fauna that thrive on this island. The stars of the wildlife species are the nearly 3,000 humpback whales that flock to the Bay of Samana every year to mate and birth in the warm waters. Cayo Levantado, also known as Bacardi Island because of a Bacardi commercials filmed here in the 1970s, is the place to stay. Its a small, picturesque island that sits just three miles from Samaná Bay.
Los Haitises National Park is a national park located on the remote northeast coast of Dominica and nurtures one of the few remaining rainforests, once used as a filming location for the feature film Jurassic Park. And nestled along the southeast coast of the Dominica is Bayahibe, known for its iconic stripped light tower, its white sand beaches and beautiful coconut grove. If you are a photography or nature lover, or you are looking for a great place to visit, this place has it. Most photos were taken with my 16-35mm, 70-200mm and 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 and ISO setting of 100.
Jamaica
Our last stop is Jamaica, the third largest of the Caribbean islands. Not only is Jamaica home to the late Bob Marley, but it is a lush and beautiful island. Blue Mountain Peak is the highest mountain in Jamaica and one of the highest peaks in the Caribbean at 7,402 ft. It is the home of famous Blue Mountain coffee. Perhaps the most famous beach on the island is the Seven Mile Beach with its unbroken expanse of picture-perfect sand. And the famous Dunn’s River Falls, 180 feet high and 600 feet long and is worth visiting. After five amazing visits to Jamaica, we still come back for more. Most photos were taken with my 16-35mm, 70-200mm and 24-105mm lens; in AV mode; at f/11 and ISO setting of 100.
YOU ARE INVITED!
I am extremely honoured to be presenting at the Toronto ProFusion Photo & Video Expo this year on behalf of Hahnemuehle Fine Art Papers. There are many free seminars on November 9 & 10, 2022 and Hahnemuehle will also be showcasing a gallery of my Caribbean prints at the Amplis booth. Click here to learn more and register: profusionexpo.com
We look forward to seeing you there!
We hope you enjoyed our photo adventures to the Caribbean and will stay in touch with us.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Dulis is a Canadian photographer and visual storyteller living in Toronto, Ontario. His work has been published in a number of magazines such as Graphic Arts Magazine, Visual Wilderness, Luminous Landscape, Photo News and has been recognized for photography excellence. Peter offers photo workshops in southern Ontario and can be reached at info@photographyAdventures.ca
Peter shares many of his tips and techniques in his monthly newsletter – PhotographyAdventures.ca and PeterDulisPhotography.com
