Happy Monday everyone! I wanted to give you a quick update on a project I’m working on, and share a photo from my current location – the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. This is an amazing area for photography with everything from rainforests, wildlife, beaches, gorgeous landscapes, macro and close-ups, all the way to people photography.
Costa Rica?
Yep, with all of the election madness going on, and eventual new president, my wife and I decided to pack up the family and move to Costa Rica. We figured it was a great way to get away from it all.
What?!!! Really? Costa Rica
Gotcha!!! 🙂
No, I’m totally kidding. I am in Costa Rica, but we haven’t moved here (although it is tempting). A while back, I started working on a project to bring my photography workshops here. The details are coming, but this trip was to nail down some details, and put the finishing touches on the plans for the first workshop (most likely May 2017).
If you’re interested, feel free to leave a comment here. The first one will be a small workshop limited to 10 people, and I’ll do a full announcement and sign-ups soon. But here’s what I can tell you – this area is truly a photography changing experience. I’m in the midst of traveling now, and trying to shoot and take in as much of this area as possible.
So if you’ll bear with me, I promise there are about 3-4 more blog posts that are coming soon. Of course there will be a trip recap with lots of photos, and there are some things I want to share about what I’ve learned in shooting down here.
Can I Take A Monkey Home With Me?
All I can say is Wow! We were out in the rainforest the other day and we literally had a monkey photography  photo frenzy. I can’t explain it, but they were all around us, and it was hard to figure out which direction to shoot. I did manage to capture this one though. What really got me was the baby’s one eye peeking through on the right side. Just amazing!
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Costa Rica is a beautiful place for photography. I have lived here, primarily in San José for the past two years before recently relocating to Zarcero, a small town about 1.5 hours north of San José that is much safer. If you do decide to go to Costa Rica, just know it is not the safest place, especially for people going about with thousands of dollars of camera equipment who stick out like a sore thumb.
I would stay away from the Caribbean area unless the person who is guiding you knows exactly where to go. It suffers from extreme third-world type poverty (where 7 people live in a shack and sleep on a dirt floor) and high crime. It is where most of the drugs from South America enter CR. It is not uncommon for a worker on a banana plantation in this area to be robbed of their bus money, lunch, machete, and shoes. Seriously.
South, north, and west of San José are much safer due to tourism, foreign investment, and expats living there, all of which has reduced poverty and therefore crime.
My wife and I are wedding photographers in Costa Rica, https://www.arenasfoto.com/, and have shot weddings and engagements in many places in San José. When we are free, we are photographing Costa Rica’s beautiful places.
If your guide knows Costa Rica well, you will be fine. There are places in the U.S. where I would not go either. Feel free to contact us if you have any specific questions.
Would be very interested in a workshop there!
I’m in……
I am interested as well. May would be perfect
I’m interested! I love Costa Rica, but haven’t been recently. Pura vida!!! Sign me up!
Sounds like a photog’s paradise. I too am interested.
Thanks Matt, love your tips!
Are you still in my lovely Costa Rica? I live in San Jose. Is the workshop intended for traveling participants only? Will be waiting he here the details.
Pura vida,
George
Hi George – In the Atlanta airport right now headed home. The workshop will be on the OSA peninsula hosted at Crocodile Bay.
Interested; want more details.
Very Interested
I’m interested.
I’m interested!
Yes, Costa Rica is one of the photographer paradise… Enjoy!
Looking forward to your photos…
Sign me up for that workshop! Sound amazing!
I would rather “bear” with you than “bare” with you, Matt. Love that little guy peeking out from behind mama.
Would love to do a workshop there! But no I won’t “bare with you”.
Ha! Luckily I’m a better photographer than I am an editor 🙂
The Osa Pennisula is on my dream list for places to go. Can’t wait to hear about your workshops.