# Black Caiman Research **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, non-nature\ **Created:** [January 26, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106 "2025-01-26T18:22:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106/1 "2025-01-26T18:22:30Z")
### Image ![caimanblack0124guyana105.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/b/0/b03dc57bdfe421c5eec568966f520184e8ff9e77.jpeg) ### Image Description One of my favorite moments behind the lens last year was also one of the biggest surprises. While scouting Guyana, I joined an Amerindian black caiman research team on the Rupununi River. I’m normally pretty uncomfortable documenting people at close range—not wanting to invade personal space—but this was a fun and informative night out with this crew. They captured this individual, brought her onshore, and took numerous measurements as part of an ongoing project studying these large crocodilians. Here, after taking bets on her weight, they’re seeing how close they were with their guesses before releasing her. Black caiman were threatened in Guyana and elsewhere in South America until the skin trade was largely regulated and hunting for skins was banned. Now they’re doing fairly well. [I wrote about my night out with the research team (and shared more photos) in my blog.](https://www.maxwaugh.com/2024/07/19/studying-black-caiman-in-guyana/) ### Pertinent Technical Details Canon R3 Canon 24-70mm ISO 5000 1/30th f/4 ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106/2 "2025-01-26T22:49:09Z")
Very neat image of the team and their activity, Max. The lighting whether intentional or not is superb. ---
**Author:** ![Kris\_Smith](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/kris_smith/32/59826_2.png) [@Kris\_Smith](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kris_Smith)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106/3 "2025-01-26T23:53:53Z")
Oh very cool. Nice to see experts in the field…not sure I’d want to wrangle one of those babies! I love the smile on that guy, too. Definitely not stressed or anything and even the croc seems relaxed. Off to read your post. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_Erhardt](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jim_erhardt/32/74226_2.png) [@Jim\_Erhardt](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jim_Erhardt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 9:30am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106/4 "2025-01-27T09:30:23Z")
> [@Dennis\_Plank](#): > > Very neat image of the team and their activity, Max. The lighting whether intentional or not is superb. My thoughts exactly! The sun stars from the headlamps are a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Waugh](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/max_waugh/32/512_2.png) [@Max\_Waugh](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Max_Waugh)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106/5 "2025-01-27T17:10:16Z")
Dennis and Jim, thanks. Regarding the lighting, I was working simply with what was available. All night, it was basically the light from the flashlights they were using to do the work. Frankly, one of the biggest surprises is how well so many of the images turned out given the circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/black-caiman-research/45106/6 "2025-01-27T17:29:54Z")
That’s what I had guessed, Max. That kind of lighting seems to be very effective for documentary images. The irregularity of it creates mystery and usually seems to highlight the main subject.