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Costa Rica Travel Photography: Capturing the Wild Beauty

Let's file this post under Costa Rica Travel Photography (not Spring Break Family Pictures). As a photographer (and mom of three teenagers), I’ve learned to stay flexible — especially on vacation.

These days, my kids would rather not be in front of my camera. It’s apparently so cringy to have your mom snapping pics while you're just trying to enjoy a smoothie in peace. And let's be honest — phone scrolling and forced smiles aren't exactly fun to photograph anyway.


So, I set out to find some new content (and willing subjects).

Close-up of a spider monkey resting its body along a wooden railing, gazing softly at the camera with an expressive face and outstretched hands

And then I stumbled upon this guy.


No posing. No forced teenage smiles or eye rolls. Just a quiet moment of mutual awe.


Something about the way he looked at me — curious, still — reminded me why I reach for my camera in the first place. Not to direct, but to notice...

Two scarlet macaws soaring side by side across a pale blue sky, their colorful wings extended in perfect unison

Some things are meant to fly side by side, for a lifetime (as Macaws do)


Squirrel monkey caught mid-air in an energetic leap between trees, its limbs fully extended against a backdrop of dense green foliage

Squirrel monkeys take the biggest leaps of faith — no hesitation, just instinct and trust


Spider monkey sitting upright on a curved tree branch, casually snacking on fruit while holding a leaf in one hand and gazing off into the distance

Lunch and a great view? Sacred in the rainforest too.


Spider monkey striding along a wooden railing, gripping a banana in one hand with its back turned, mid-step in a lush jungle setting

But there is also a need for grab n' go.


Scarlet macaw perched on a thin tree branch, holding a green fruit in its beak, surrounded by vibrant foliage.
Yellow-throated toucan perched on a pale tree branch with a white sky background, framed by broad green leaves.
Small green bird with a yellow beak peering out from a hole in a moss-covered tree trunk, surrounded by a soft green forest blur

Some moments don’t shout for attention — they wait quietly, tucked into the trees, until you're still enough to see them.


Looking up at a massive rainforest tree with sprawling roots and branches, sunlight filtering through the dense green canopy above
Close-up of a tree trunk on the forest floor with a naturally formed heart-shaped hollow at its base, surrounded by fallen leaves and undergrowth

Trees, too, have their own way of speaking.


Some reach skyward with impossible strength, their roots anchoring centuries of wind and rain.

Others whisper something softer — heart-shaped and hollow.


Macro shot of a vibrant red and yellow heliconia flower, surrounded by lush green foliage and softly filtered light
Close-up portrait of a coati with wide eyes and distinctive white facial markings, standing alert against a blurred green background
Squirrel monkey sprawled across a wooden railing, legs dangling, with a relaxed expression and soft light falling on its fur
Spider monkey cautiously walking along a jungle boardwalk railing, surrounded by large green leaves with a focused gaze.

Expression doesn’t need words to be understood


Flock of birds soaring high above in a spiral formation against a vast blue sky with billowing white clouds.
Single fern leaf illuminated by a shaft of light on the dark rainforest floor, surrounded by deep shadow and layered greenery

And from the wide-open sky to the dense forest floor, the light always finds its way in —not because it was chased or forced (like those teenage smiles)...but because I was still enough to notice.


If you're looking for travel photography that embraces stillness, story, and the unexpected — I'm always up for the adventure. Let's chat.



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