Brazil Photography and Travel Guide
photo by Justin Black
National Geographic named the Pantanal, “Brazil’s Best Kept Secret,” because while most photographers have their eyes on the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal truly has the most biodiversity.
The Pantanal is part national park, part UNESCO World Heritage site, and all a dream come true for landscape, nature, and wildlife photographers.
Plus, it’s huge at over 70,000 square miles. No wonder it’s Brazil’s best-kept secret! Even if you’ve visited the area before, you’ve probably barely begun.
While you’re planning your first trip to Brazil, don’t forget the Pantanal and don’t forget these tips and tricks to make the most of your time there.
What to Photograph in Brazil - Landscapes
Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash
The Pantanal is the world’s largest freshwater wetlands, so it goes without saying that the landscapes here are breathtaking (and many are undiscovered). Because of the absence of roads, the Pantanal is both the landscape photographer’s best friend and worst enemy.
While there will be no people or manmade structures to obscure your views, there will also be a high chance of flooding and an even higher chance of not showering for a few days.
photo by Videowok_art via iStock
One of the prettiest landscapes in the Pantanal are the areas where giant lily pads lie in abundance.
Of course, while you’re out photographing these giant lily pads you will need to be hyper aware because anywhere there is water there are also caimans.
And it’s difficult to see them until you are almost on top of them. The hissing alone is enough to give you a heart attack!
What to Photograph in Brazil - Jaguars
photo by Justin Black
The Pantanal’s biggest attraction is its abundance of jaguars. Jaguars are incredibly elusive in most parts of the world, considering there are only 64,000 of them in all of the Americas.
In the Pantanal there are 9 jaguars every 40 miles, the highest concentration anywhere in the world.
Plus, unlike the Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal is mostly open wetlands, so your chances of spying a jaguar are much higher. Imagine trying to photograph this through brown and black branches.
photo by Justin Black
While your chances of seeing a jaguar somewhere in the Pantanal are pretty high already, there are places where you are almost guaranteed to spot some jaguars.
The hotel Fazenda Santa Teresa, for example, has several wildlife observation towers. If you get up high, and if you get close to water, you will double your chances of the perfect shot.
If you are really serious about shooting jaguars on your trip, you will need to rent a boat or go on tour with a group that is planning on chartering one.
photo by Justin Black
The easiest place to photograph jaguars is along the water. This is where they come to drink and it is also where they hunt incredible beasts like caimans and capybaras.
It also helps your chances if you’re going to the Pantanal with an experienced host (more on that later).
What to Photograph in Brazil - Birds
photo by Justin Black
The Pantanal is also known for housing nearly 377 (known) species of birds. It’s estimated that those 377 species probably make up about 81% of the area’s total bird species.
Among the birds you are bound to spot are toucans, parrots and herons. If you’re lucky, you can spot feeding frenzies of storks, ibis and jacanas.
photo by Justin Black
If you venture deep enough into the Pantanal with your lodging choices, you can photograph birds right outside of your hotel room in the middle of the hot, sweaty days.
photo by Justin Black
It also helps to maximize your time in the Pantanal by staying in a variety of different lodges, so you are more likely to spot dozens of species instead of just the few that are nearest you.
How to Make the Most of Photographing Brazil
photo by Justin Black
I always say in order to make the best of a new travel destination you either need to do intense research or go with someone who has gone before.
Nobody knows the place best like a local, and nobody knows how to photograph the place best like a photography teacher.
Visionary Wild, a photography travel company, is hosting a Pantanal trip in 2020.
photo by Justin Black
This Pantanal trip will be the ninth trip with the company for the tour’s leader, Justin Black, so you can be sure all of your questions will be answered by someone who has had the same questions before.
The tour takes place from August 31 to September 10, 2020, and begins at around $10,000, which is a steal considering the number of locations you will be visiting.
Visionary Wild also isn’t like other photography travel companies because the tour guides are focused on active education throughout the trip.
photo by Justin Black
While this education begins on the areas you will be staying and the flora and fauna you will be photographing, it also extends to the ways you are photographing these subjects.
You will be mentored one-on-one throughout the trip with your artistic expression as the focus. Sure, you will have your basic photography questions answered on any photography tour, but isn’t it better to be with a tour guide who can also help you convey the exact emotions you are trying to in your photos?
During Visionary Wild’s Pantanal trip you will stay in 3 different hotels and be able to focus on jaguars, landscapes, birds and a variety of other wildlife, all while networking with world-class photographers.
If that doesn’t sound like my ideal vacation, I don’t know what does!