This is a Three-toed Sloth. Once a week, they descend from their home in the trees to use the restroom on the ground. It is a vulnerable and rarely seen moment in a sloth’s life, and we were very lucky to find this individual just as he was beginning his slow journey down toward the jungle floor.
As he made his way down the main trunk, he took a wrong turn onto a large branch. When he reached the end of that branch, he let go and hung there, suspended, feeling around for another branch or possibly the ground below. It was one of those situations where everything was happening slowly, yet the photographic opportunity was incredibly fleeting.
A Fleeting Wildlife Photography Opportunity
From the moment he let go until he reached back up and grabbed the branch again was 26 seconds. I checked the time stamp afterward. During those 26 seconds, I took 32 images. My goal was simple. I was hoping for one frame where he looked toward me, making eye contact with the viewer and creating a stronger emotional connection in the final image.
That is exactly what I got.
One frame.
In the other 31 images, you cannot even see his eyes. Those images will all be deleted without hesitation. That might sound extreme, but it highlights an important point about wildlife photography. Moments like this are unpredictable, and expressions or gestures that make an image truly work can last a fraction of a second.
Don’t Miss The Opportunity!
Don’t be afraid to hold the shutter button down and smoke off some frames during a rapidly changing situation. Doing so can be the difference between coming away with a meaningful image or missing the moment entirely.
Back in the days of film, when it cost 35 cents per frame, his approach was much harder to justify. Today, in the digital age, the cost is nothing more than a keystroke. The real cost comes from hesitation or missed opportunity.
When the moment presents itself, be ready, commit fully, and give yourself every possible chance to succeed.
Good Luck and Good Light!
Steve & Nicole
Image: Three-toed Sloth, near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica