Practical field craft
Photographing birds in Borneo
Bird photography
You will need long telephoto lenses and disciplined exposure control to pull sharp images from the dark understory.
Light conditions
The ambient canopy light
The interior of a Bornean dipterocarp forest, home to the Bornean great argus, is dark. When you spot a canopy species like the Red-crowned Barbet hopping along a heavy branch 30 metres above you, it will often look like a dark lump against a bright tropical sky.
Modern mirrorless autofocus systems frequently catch on foreground leaves when you shoot at a steep upward angle. You will often need to override the autofocus manually to punch through the intervening foliage.
Heavy telephoto prime lenses
For wildlife photography in Borneo's rainforest at this scale, you need reach. The standard kit for professional wildlife photographers working in Sabah relies on primary lenses ranging from 400mm f/2.8 to 800mm f/5.6.
Flat-bottomed electric skiffs
The most effective platform for riverine photography is a flat-bottomed skiff with low gunwales. The low sides serve as physical rests for beanbags and heavy gimbal heads.
Photography locations
Other destinations
Surrounding rainforest reserves
Danum Valley
2.5 hours by road from Lahad Datu, Danum Valley is 438 square kilometres of lowland rainforest that was never logged with three very different places to stay inside it.
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
A 122,500-hectare lowland reserve bordered by oil palm, Tabin is Sabah’s premier destination for night drives. The sharp forest edge concentrates small cats and civets along the boundary roads.
Light conditions
Custom photography itineraries
Tell the team about your target species and lens focal lengths so they can secure the right electric boats and private vehicles.