I had the incredible opportunity to photograph the 23rd International Marketing Conference for the US Grains and Bioproducts Council (USGBC), held in the beautiful and culturally dynamic country of Panama.
On the second day of the conference, attendees were invited on a private charter tour through the Panama Canal! Riding a private charter ferry through the Panama Canal is an unforgettable blend of engineering and natural beauty. We began at dawn on the Atlantic side at the Panama Cruise Terminal, surrounded by tiny sail boats and towering cargo ships, then made our way beneath the sweeping span of the Bridge of the Americas. Entering the Miraflores Locks and later the Pedro Miguel Locks, we felt the quiet power of the canal at work as the ferry gently rose within the massive concrete chambers. Passing under the Centennial Bridge, the scenery shifted from monumental man-made infrastructure to lush rainforest. The journey grew more serene as we followed the winding Chagres River toward the dock at Gamboa, wathcing pelicans, frigatdbirds, and ospray soar overhead. Busses awaited our return from this remarkable passage connecting oceans, industry, and wilderness in a single voyage.
To document the day’s outing, I worked with two Nikon Z9 bodies—one paired with the Nikkor Z 24-120 f4 and the other with the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8, which had a Nikkor Z TC1.4x attached, effectively giving me a 100-250mm f4 focal length. I used a Godox V480 flash for fill when needed. And I used a DJI Mini 3 Pro for a few aerial drone photos when appropriate. This setup allowed me plenty of flexibility and reach to capture all aspects of the group’s outing!
