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British Exploring to the Amazon!

In the summer I was once again terrifically lucky to be part of the British Exploring Society – This time, the Amazon expedition to ther Manu jungle in South East Peru.  British Exploring is such a wonderful organisation – dedicated to getting to the most remote and beautiful parts of the world – tough expeditions, but designed to bring the best out of the Young Explorers who attend.  We had 3 weekedns of training – making sure everyone understood what was ahead of them, and giving the right amount of information to allow those who want to take their scientific knowledge further to do so.  The leader team consisted of adventure leaders, skilled in the talents required for leading people on expeditions – science leaders, who brought their own knowledge to bear so brilliantly in terms of jungle, insects, trees, rivers etc – and media leaders.

Lima to Cusco
Lima to Cusco
Over Cusco
Over the Cusco valley
The expedition (Wellies to combat the snake threat!)
The expedition (Wellies to combat the snake threat!)

I dont know if you have ever been to the far reaches of South America – but I can tell you it’s a damned long way!  But what a fun journey!  Hours on an aeroplane to Cusco (changing flights in Madrid and then Lima), then hours in mini-buses to get to the river head, then an hour and half in a boat, then a slog up the hill to Base camp.  I shalln’t go into too much detail about the expedition – that is being written elsewhere, but my role as photographer allowed me to try to capture the whole thing.  I took my Nikon D3s and most of my lenses, and my Fujifilm X100.  2 x flashes, tripod, lighting stands and triggers.  Lots of batteries of course (but being warm in climate, the batteries lasted so well!)  I also took a light-box – a small translucent box that, with my 2 x flashes and triggers could turn a tiny part of the jungle into a studio.  I didn’t realise how effective this would be, but boy, it was effective!  I now wish I had a macro lens with me (of course I needed a macro with ALL those insects!)…next time!

Poison Dart Frog on location in the Lightbox
Poison Dart Frog on location in the Lightbox
and again
and again
Nasty rash type caterpillar...
Nasty rash type caterpillar…
Incredible translucent caterpillar
Incredible translucent caterpillar
....which seemed to have a flag on its back!
….which seemed to have a flag on its back!
The omni=present Bullet Ant - most painful insect bite in the world!
The omni=present Bullet Ant – most painful insect bite in the world!
Dead, diseased moth
Dead, diseased moth

So, without too much explanation in words – I hope the following photographs give a sense of the adventure we undertook!

Tom and Huw gathering drinking water
Tom and Huw gathering drinking water
Collecting insects
Collecting insects
Mozzie - brilliant base-camp manager
Mozzie – brilliant base-camp manager
Scarlet Macaws
Scarlet Macaws
Leaf-Cutter ant
Leaf-Cutter ant
Tom - Tree specialist
Tom – Tree specialist
Some camera work uner the milky-way
Some camera work uner the milky-way
Down at the river in Salvacion
Down at the river in Salvacion
Tom - Deputy Chief Leader
Tom – Deputy Chief Leader
Georgie washing!!
Georgie washing!!
Me - teaching flash and daylight balance
Me – teaching flash and daylight balance
Huw - Camerman extraordinaire!
Huw – Camerman extraordinaire!
Helping "fix" the banana tree plantation
Helping “fix” the banana tree plantation
The incredible Oliver Valenti - who has lived in Salvacion for the last 17 years!
The incredible Oliver Valenti – who has lived in Salvacion for the last 17 years!
More leaf-cutters
More leaf-cutters
Close up
Close up
Young explorers admin....
Young explorers admin….

If ever you get the chance to go on a British Exploring Society Adventure….do it, without delay!

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