Macro Photography in ECUADOR - Episode 1: Bugs, Beetles, and Birds 

This, honestly, was one of the most relaxing, intriguing videos I can remember watching. Thank you

Thomas you are a quiet authority in this field who leads by example in how freely you share knowledge and amazing images.

When it is cold and the winter time, I go back to watch your videos to reminisce the warm days being out looking for bugs to shoot.

Hey Thomas! I'm not sure if someone else has mentioned this but I feel like you're the Bob Ross of macro photography. Please keep making your great videos and thanks for being awesome.

My beautiful country. Ecuador is a paradise.

I love these field trips abroad! Thank you for sharing.

Can't tell you how eagerly I wait for episode number 2. Thomas, you are an inspiration.

This is one of the most educational and enjoyable videos I've seen on photography. The photos are fascinating.

Beautiful, relaxing video as always. What a paradise for a macro photographer!

Congrats for this outstanding photography .Beautiful insects and birds in my country.Thanks a lot.

Thoughtful, respectful view of nature with superb photos

The beetle that packed it's wings is amazing. What a capture.!

Wonderful expedition to Ecuador! Rip Andreas Kay

'The Wondrous World of Thomas Shahan' - and thank you bringing us along with you. Amazing photographs. Just amazing. Thank you.

When I think about Space Force I try to imagine people like you, expertise that maintains a respect and wonder for nature 💖🌍🌌💖

Well done!. You have captured amazing and profoundly beautiful examples of life many of us will never have the opportunity to with our own eyes. And the macro photography is spectacular in revealing the intricate details of these complex little critters.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Thank you so much for sharing your photos.

This is fantastic. Cannot wait for your arachnid episode!

Thanks for this woderful video. Such a joy to watch.

I've been watching your spider videos for years now, most of them over and over! Love this video. So relaxing and beautiful. Thanks for everything!

it's amazing how much life we can see around us if we just slow down and look for it! That's why i love Macro Photography:D

I'm glad I found you on youtube. Your voice is very relaxing. For you, macro photography seems very easy to do.

Thank you for taking us on a journey with you! Well done.

Thomas, you are a real inspiration, you are one of the best field macro photographers out there, and it shows why. It seams to me that you don’t change to the latest gear, you stick to what works for you. You don’t run around trying to be productive, you take it slow, follow your pace. What I always felt seeing your photos and know watching the vids, is that you work for pleasure and share (photos and knowledge) as a gift to us viewers and colleagues, not as a away to gather external validation, a trap so common these day. I’m a biologist (researching owl biology) and hobby photographer from Brazil, so if you ever head this way, I would gladly show you some gems here in the southwest. Cheers

Love this, very well documented and stunning, stunning macro shots. So vivid and light. I've never been able to take macro gear into a rain forest like this, but even on a bright spring day here in the Netherlands I know how demanding it is to get everything right. It's been a few years for me to be really active, but this is inspiring!

Thomas, once again amazing pictures! Thanks for doing what you do.

Thank you for sharing this trip and its colorful inhabitants. So many amazing shots! I look forward to watching the next episode!

You’ve been inspiring me for years now Thomas, so much art... many thanks

Wow, Thomas! These photos are truly inspirational. A real treat. I can't wait for the next part. Thank you for sharing these wondrous encounters.

Your videos (not to mention your photos) are always a treat! Thank you.

Love the way you just have the rain as background audio.

Beautiful Video. Much ❤️ to Ecuador during these tough times!

Hello Thomas this video was a wonderful "Easter Bunny" for me, with all your wonderful close-ups and the homely sounds of the rain in the tropical forest.

Wonderful video so peaceful ... loved it!

Thomas I'm always fascinated when watching your video's, so keep the good work up and many thanks!

What an inspiration for Macro photography. Thanks Thomas.

Great shots! Thank you for sharing them! And for your time, very enjoyable👍👍

your videos are always so trippy and beautiful. i feel like i just got done meditating.

Just magical Thomas, thanks for sharing your life and skills man. I feel a fantastic grounding urge to get into the wild when I see your work. Please keep it up. Just wonderful.

Luv the birds; well done! ... and the dog

Thanks for your time in showing us the beautiful world of macro...

Amazing to see you post a new video again, Thomas, it's been a while. And wow, isn't this a joy to watch. Though there's a part of me that really feels envious of your interactions and observations of these wonderful insect species that I totally hadn't seen before. Loving this content and looking forward to more. P.S. Those bird shots look awesome, by the way.

Thank you Thomas. Amazing work!

Bonjour, Merci pour ce merveilleux voyage.

Thomas, thanks for making these wonderful videos. They're so beautiful but also so sad to me.... a record of a world thats fading away in front of our eyes.

Stunning images displayed in a relaxing feel in the video.

some really great shots from my fave stomping grounds

Amazing how much diversity in coloration and shapes!!

Much appreciated share Thomas , lovely work thank you.

It is really pleasure to watch your videoes 😍😍😍

what a beautiful experience, your videos are just amazing to watch.

Amazing macro photo results.. 👍

Wow, such amazing subjects and gorgeous photos! I really appreciate the soothing qualities of your video, as well.

How beautiful!

I was looking for macro photography tutorials and videos but there were not enough materials online. Thankfully, I got a random video that was yours and then on I never stopped watching all of your youtube videos. I think your ideas are a perfect blend of macro photography.

The most relaxing, attractive, peaceful macro photography video I remember watching. I definitely need to go there. Amazing subjects, and shots. I hope you can visit Malaysia and Borneo, it d be phenomenal to watch your video of Malaysia.

Awesome!! I alway love to see your work and I am one million percent inspired to go there when that chance comes around! Keep the videos coming!

Inspiring! Thanks a lot for sharing your work.

Amazing! So beautiful.

Cant wait for next clip... Just love ur work

Very nice production. Thank you.

This is the closest thing I’ve seen to photography ASMR. Loved it

As a macro photographer myself, I was absolutely astonished by the folding of the wings of that Beatle ( 8:46 ) . That was something I never even imagined. Thank you for sharing!

Thomas, I cannot thank you enough for sharing your absolutely brilliantly beautiful work. It brings me joy, and makes me want explore more with what is possible with photography. Your work has has essentially got me over my fear of insects and gave me a more open eye to see all the beauty around. Well done sir. Highly appreciate your work. Also the music.

Stunning images!!

Stunning shots! I love the Staphylinids you captured. I used to work with some that are 3-5mm total length (biocontrol agents for greenhouse pests). Was always fascinated by their flight (upright J) and the precision with which they packed their wings with the tips of their abdomens - reminded me of a military honour guard folding and presenting a flag to a fallen soldier’s loved ones.

Love your work thomas, thank you 👍🏽

Stunning images.

Awesome images, biodiversity, location and video Thomas!!! You make macro photography look easy......but I know fully well just how much skill technically is required. Your ability to find such amazing insects and subjects is superb too. Congratulations!!!

Heyy my favorite narrator is back! Looking forward to your upcoming episodes!

Your etchings and photos are bloody sweet! Awesome!

Wow, this was great, I love that red-velvet fungus beetle, and the maneuverability of the rove beetle, fascinating! What an incredibly beautiful place. I'm looking forward to the following episode :D

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! I first visited Ecuador and Mindo about 17 years ago and had 7 trips to various areas in just a few years. Got totally hooked on insect macros even though I first visited for bird watching. After about 9am each day the birds would go quiet but the insect life was awesome. After the first trip I invested in my first digital camera and didn't look back after that.

Excellent, as usual.

Great photos. Love your work.

Enjoying your channel very much.

Incredible shots and diversity.

Magnífico trabajo Thomas, como siempre un vídeo excelente. Espero que nos deleites con más vídeos de tus viajes.

Really fantastic bugs. You are a god of macrophotography. I'm an humble padawan looking at the jedi master you are. Like I live in France I haven't as species to shoot as you can had found in Equador forest. I only shoot jumping spiders I can found here in my garden. Not such exiting as a trip in rain forest for sure. Waiting for the following videos. Great job! Thanks

You're such an inspiration! I'd love to visit somewhere like this one day

I always enjoy watching your macro videos. Another beauty with just amazing critters well photographed. Well done on the hummingbird front. That is usually my experience...comb through all the shots and find those few that are focused and decently framed 😀

Wonderful video! Always find them very interesting and relaxing.

Those rove beetles... whoa. Thanks Thomas!

Great content! Keep them coming! 👍

thank you for waking up the childhood dormant in our eyes

Beautiful! Very very engaging!

This is truly amazing!

So cool how the rogue beetle folds their wings. Great capture

Gods an Artist !

Great video, Thomas! I'm a fan of yours!

Awesome pictures ! one of the Best Macro shoots , i have even seen ! congrats ! very informative...please continue the Good work !

Fantastic! Thanks 💜

Great video !! I wished it kept going for longer !! Really well done ! Thank you !!

Great work! Very inspiring.

Thomas, this was jaw-dropping! Incredible photos and footage. I actually stayed at the same Lodge you were at for a few days this past fall. I was mostly focused on birds but regret not focusing more on insects. Incredible diversity!

Hi mate, amazing work, thanks for the video

Wonderful! I love your photography and am a big fan of Andreas Kay, he was a great guy and his photos will live on. I was born in Ecuador and lived in Shell, in the Amazon, for most of my childhood. We loved finding all kinds of weird and wonderful bugs, but didn't have a good camera back in the day..... I now live in Japan, doing macro photography if I have time, and wish I could go back to Ecuador to shoot there too. Great shots! Looking forward to your next video! Thank you.

Superb pics an footage! Thanks for sharing this wonderfull content! Greetings, Rolf

Loved it, been waiting a while for this one

Thomas, you are amazing!