Long-tailed Sylph
This photograph features the Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii), captured at La Minga Ecolodge near Cali in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The bird is shown perched in a moment of stillness, its elongated tail flowing well below the branch and creating a strong vertical line through the frame. Emerald-green plumage with subtle blue iridescence contrasts gently with the muted tones of the cloud forest background, which falls away into soft layers shaped by distance and diffused light.
From a photographic standpoint, this image was about restraint and timing. I waited for the sylph to settle into a clean angle where posture, tail alignment, and background separation worked together naturally. The soft forest light helped preserve fine feather detail without harsh highlights, while focal compression simplified the scene and kept attention on form and color. La Minga consistently offers these quiet opportunities, where patience and observation matter more than speed, making it a rewarding place to work thoughtfully with wildlife.
©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer
Long-tailed Sylph
This photograph features the Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii), captured at La Minga Ecolodge near Cali in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The bird is shown perched in a moment of stillness, its elongated tail flowing well below the branch and creating a strong vertical line through the frame. Emerald-green plumage with subtle blue iridescence contrasts gently with the muted tones of the cloud forest background, which falls away into soft layers shaped by distance and diffused light.
From a photographic standpoint, this image was about restraint and timing. I waited for the sylph to settle into a clean angle where posture, tail alignment, and background separation worked together naturally. The soft forest light helped preserve fine feather detail without harsh highlights, while focal compression simplified the scene and kept attention on form and color. La Minga consistently offers these quiet opportunities, where patience and observation matter more than speed, making it a rewarding place to work thoughtfully with wildlife.
©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer