The Flight of the Spider Monkey

The heat was stifling. Being near the mighty flowing Amazon River was the only solace I could find from the oppressive heat, so being invited to travel on a long boat to visit some of the river-dwelling animals found in the Amazon Jungle sounded like heaven on such a hellishly hot day.

Single file, my partner and I traversed the rickety boat to take our seats on the hard wooden benches. Around us the river was dark and murky, hiding the strong current and the apparent piranhas below. I had never seen a piranha before but I didn’t particularly want to meet one face to face, so I moved about the long boat as steady as I could manage.

Finding our seats in the boat I was at the very front where the wood merged to its bow. I had a perfect view of the river as our tour guide climbed in the back and set up the oar. For the small river we were diverging up we wouldn’t need the power of the boat’s engine.

Silently, the boat glided through the darkened water. All around us was an expanse of clear blue skies and lush green trees. High above our little long boat I saw a toucan flying to nest into a huge tree. It was sleek and glossy, its black tail feathers practically shining in the sun above it. I could make out the colours of its vibrant beak against the blue sky.

The sounds of nature were so quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the village. Here, as we floated down the stream taking in the natural environment of the Amazon Jungle in Peru, the beauty was breathtaking but the sounds were what fascinated me.

There were the sounds of the insects darting around the river, and the sound of the gentle flowing water itself. But as we continued to slowly make our way down the river I began to hear rustling in the trees and the bushes all around me. The activity became louder as we drew closer, and I wonder with some alarm what creature would greet us through the thicket of the Amazon Jungle.

Soon screeching began to meet my ears as I realised the rustling was a large troop of spider monkeys jumping from tree to tree, frenzied in their daily activities. There must have been close to about fifty of them foraging in the bushes and the evergreens that lined the river. I gasped as I watched them dart in and out of view, balancing on the branches like circus performers on a high wire.

There were so many different colours, from sleek black males to softer brown tipped females with black markings around the head, feet and knees. Large and small, light and dark brown, the monkeys were close above our heads as we floated past that I could see deep into the sentience of their shining black eyes.

I raised the camera to my own eyes to capture the tranquil moment of the spider monkeys, who used their tales to assist them in their search for food amongst the trees. I felt my heart swell with peaceful admiration for these beautiful mammals, whom I felt so lucky to share in a moment of quiet and unreserved natural behaviour with.

A small line of three spider monkeys made to dart from one low hanging branch to another that crossed the river above our heads. The last monkey lined up and propelled itself forward with the power of its hind legs and tail, soaring gracefully through the clear air. The shutter on the camera clicked as I caught the flight of the spider monkey just before it landed with a bounce on the branch of the tree. As quickly as it had made the decision to jump, the spider monkey darted along the branch and into the thicket of the tree, getting lost amongst the greenery.

The boat continued on its journey down the quiet river, and the sounds of the screeching monkeys began to ebb away. I was absolutely flawed at the beauty around us and the peace I felt on this river. The Amazon Jungle is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, and I was so lucky to be here, capturing this moment in time that I will never forget.

The beautiful thing about capturing the flight of the spider monkey on camera was the natural movement in the composition. I was using a Nikon D5200 Digital Camera, and the correct shutter speed allowed for the animal to be captured without blurring from the movement as it jumped from tree to tree. The editing process was minimal due to the correct capture settings that had been calibrated on the camera prior to the boat trip, and a few playful lighting level changes highlighted the best parts of the photo you see in the story here. Editing took no longer than five minutes before it was ready to be uploaded online.

The photo of the jumping spider monkey has become one of the highlights of the three month trip to Peru my partner and I had embarked on. It serves as a reminder of the natural beauty in movement, as well as a reminder of that peaceful ride down the Amazon River which became one of the highlights of my trip. I look at this spider monkey often and feel the freedom of flight as it jumps from branch to branch, enjoying life and limb to its fullest.

I feel we can all learn something from this flight of the spider monkey.