Traveler Story: The Pantanal’s Wonders in Photos

Jaguar, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

“My introduction to photography arrived with my first camera at age 7 and developed into a lifelong endeavor. While not my profession, photography has served a passionate and crucial role. Music was also an early passion, escalating to an intensity that I left home for high school at Interlochen (near Traverse City, Michigan) in the late 60’s. This did not, however, preclude academics. The latter increasingly seized my attention and ultimately my career following 15 intense years of education (college, medical and graduate school, internship, and residency [Ophthalmology]). I remain a university academic at the University of Rochester engaged in research (sensory-motor integration), teaching, and medicine underlying dizziness and balance disorders.

Giant River Otters, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

What does all this have to do with photography? Plenty! A common thread across disciplines is a foundation of knowledge, innovation and improvisation. One outcome is a stylistic voice, artistic or otherwise. Further, there are strong overlapping elements of technology mimicking biology (e.g. the senses, optics and other instrumentation). Oddly, photography has been my most enduring endeavor, starting early, later replacing music as an active artistic outlet, and accelerating with the digital age. My overriding challenge has been to hone and enjoy the craft while maintaining a consuming career. My solution⁠—exploit gaps in the yearly calendar⁠—occasional weekends, rare vacations and added days to meetings in exotic and interesting places. All serve as photographic “experiments” that resemble their scientific counterparts. This synergy works as an interdisciplinary collaboration of sorts. On that note, I invite you to explore my photographic work which emphasizes travel, landscape, nature and wildlife. Perhaps the above will be apparent in these images.”

Peach-fronted Parakeet, Caiman Ecological Refuge, Baiazinha Lodge

Golden Lion Tamarin, Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project

Giant Anteater with Baby, Caiman Ecological Refuge, Baiazinha Lodge

Jacare Caiman and Capybara, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

Hyacinth Macaw Pair, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

Jaguar, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

Toco Toucan Pair, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

Cowboy and Herd, Caiman Ecological Refuge, Baiazinha Lodge

Turquoise-fronted Parrot, Caiman Ecological Refuge, Baiazinha Lodge

Jaguar, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

Bare-faced Curassow, Hotel Porto Jofre, north Pantanal

Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro

Swimming Pool at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, Rio de Janeiro

Vista from Sugarloaf at Sunset, Rio de Janeiro

— Gary and Myrna Paige | Jaguars & Wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal