Rainforest Wildlife Photography: A Tribute to Guido Sterkendries

Guido Sterkendries is a daring wildlife photographer. He challenges gravity and does things that normal photographers lack the adrenalline for. Dangling from the highest trees in the rainforests of Panama and Brazil, the Belgian photographer seeks rare wonders of nature that haven’t been captured on camera before. He spends up to two weeks in a specially constructed canopy that allows him to get closer to his subjects. He is, for sure, one man who will have what stories to tell at retirement, as a real-life Tarzan of photography. Despite the risky climbings he does, he manages to stay motivated and be very active as an artist and ecologist. The results of these efforts? As it follows:

Golden Frogs

In the amazing rainforests of Panama the daring photographer Guido Sterkendries found an almost extinct species: the golden frogs.

Armored Grasshopper

The trip to the exotic parts of the world wouldn’t be really worth it without capturing the wonders of nature. Looking like a mutant, this grasshopper has an interesting defense mechanism.

The Tree Frog’s Trill

This is a very interesting photo of a tree frog performing a mating song. Observe the fascinating eye.

Unusual Caterpillar

The rainforest of the Colon Province, Panama are the perfect home for many species that few human eyes have seen so far. This is one of those species, a beautiful caterpillar.

Red Eye Tree Frog Walking

For the sake of artistic photography, this frog put on a real walking parade on that branch. Also shot in Panama.

The Blue Arboreal Poison Dart Frog

Very small, very unusual and very… poisonous. Something not every photographer will get the chance of shooting.

Unique Picture of Blue Frog

This stunning little blue frog definitely deserves another photo, since nobody before ever photographed it, nobody before Guido Sterkendries.

Black and Gold Howler Monkey

A mother and her young captured in close-up photography. Location: the forests of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Unidentified Species of Caterpillar

Guido Sterkendries shows the world whole new species of insects, like this beautiful yellow caterpillar.

The Eyelash Viper

In the deep rainforest of Panama such vipers feel at home. This is the result of nature untouched by humans.

White-Faced Capuchins

These monkeys have an IQ above average for wild creatures. Trying to amuse themselves, they ran away with the photographer’s drying underwear.

Mating

Virgin nature. Peace. Quiet. Freshness. Time for love or procreating for this pair of red eye tree frogs from Panama.

A Mosquito and a Lizard

The rules of nature don’t spare anyone. This photo shows that even the cold blooded can get bitten.

High Speed Photo of the River

A truly artistic and beautiful photo of the yellow endangered frogs next to a river stream.

A Harpy Eagle

The Harpy Eagle is the most powerful and large raptor bird. This photo was taken in the tropical wetland of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Hyacinth Macaws

Guido Sterkendries has seen the paradise. And this photo proves that: 4 beautiful blue macaws captured during their flight.

Colorful Beetle

A beautiful rainforest beetle (genus Platycoelia) that adopted the colors of nature.

A Giant Swallowtail

Macro shooting in the wild: a giant butterfly.

Black and Gold Howler Monkeys

Black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Curculionidae

An iridescent weevil (Curculionidae) in the rainforest.

 
No wonder that Guido Sterkendries’ photos are so rare and absolutely amazing. Brilliant results require sacrifices and determination. Add some passion to that and dreams become reality. Here’s how he does it.

Guido Sterkendries Working 1

Guido Sterkendries builds his way up to the highest trees and takes some dangerous poses just for the sake of finding rare species to take photos of.

Guido Sterkendries Working 2

Deep in the rainforests of Panama he twists and turns on the branches of the trees dozens of meters above ground, taking his camera along to capture the wildlife in a manner never captured before.

Guido Sterkendries Working 3

Nothing can stand between him and his passion for photography. Not even dangerous swamps.