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Nature & Wildlife

Notes from Costa Rica — Monkeys

March 26, 2014
white faced capuchin in tree 2014
White-faced capuchin at rest.

During my recent trip to the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, I was completely enchanted by the abundance of wildlife, but specifically by the monkeys. I’d never observed monkeys in the wild before, and as such, felt especially giddy whenever I spotted a group in the canopy above. There are two species of monkeys that are common in that region and which I observed on several occasions —the white-faced capuchin and the howler. Howlers are the larger and more docile of the two species, and their distinctive vocalizations, which can be heard from up to three miles away, make them sound terrifying. But the significantly smaller capuchins are the more aggressive of the two and will fiercely defend their territory.

White-faced capuchin displays a threatening posture.

 

The photo of the capuchin above was taken as he was marching up a powerline quite aggressively, presumably to chase me off. Upon closer inspection, this monkey had a significant scar on its face across one nostril, and I found myself backing off respectfully. As I observed it from a safe distance, it continued to threaten and harass a group of howlers that were feeding nearby.

Howler monkey mother and her newborn baby.

This mother and her infant were among the group of howlers that were feeding in my vicinity when the capuchins began their invasion. She ventured out onto the powerline directly above me with her baby, her eyes trained on the capuchins across the road, as if to seek some of my protection. Or, perhaps, like every mother, she just wanted to show off her new baby.

Newborn Howler Monkey
Newborn howler monkey clings to its mom.

Charlotte Gibb is a contemporary fine art photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in landscapes of the Western United States. Her images are often taken in familiar places for the well-versed landscape photographer, but she prides herself on her keen eye toward the subtle and sometimes overlooked beauty of the natural world. Growing up among the beautiful mountains of Northern California, she considers herself a student of life, learning about people, nature, music, and photography along the way. But always, her life-long passion for the wilderness shines through it all. Charlotte earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and has exhibited her work in several solo shows throughout California. Her darkroom, long gone now, has been replaced with digital darkroom tools, and her style has evolved from a somewhat journalistic approach, to one that pays tribute to the natural world. 

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12 Comments

  • Melissa Wilk
    February 14, 2019 at 7:14 PM

    Incredible!, Charlotte. The Capuchin monkeys are a delight to see. How wonderful it must be, traversing this land, seeing captivating landscapes, unusual flora and fauna. I appreciate how difficult many of your photos were to get. Careful darling, you may encounter a wild thing out there. (Like a crazy monkey, that decides it wants your camera!). Lol

    Love you girl,
    Melissa

    • charlottegibb
      February 14, 2019 at 9:17 PM

      Thanks, Melissa! For a few days I wondered if I would get any pictures at all because I never seemed to have my camera with me when the monkeys would appear. So, I started lugging my big 400mm around with me until it finally paid off!

  • Ace Batacan
    March 26, 2014 at 10:17 PM

    C – I love all the pictures especially the third one of the mother and baby. I’m sure you used a telephoto lens but how close were you? Just curious. Great job!

  • Melissa Wilk
    March 27, 2014 at 12:21 AM

    Incredible!, Charlotte. The Capuchin monkeys are a delight to see. How wonderful it must be, traversing this land, seeing captivating landscapes, unusual flora and fauna. I appreciate how difficult many of your photos were to get. Careful darling, you may encounter a wild thing out there. (Like a crazy monkey, that decides it wants your camera!). Lol

    Love you girl,
    Melissa

    • charlottegibb
      March 27, 2014 at 1:56 PM

      Thanks, Melissa! For a few days I wondered if I would get any pictures at all because I never seemed to have my camera with me when the monkeys would appear. So, I started lugging my big 400mm around with me until it finally paid off!

  • Joanne
    March 27, 2014 at 4:01 AM

    As always Charlotte, your talent and passion is so evident and abundantly displayed through your photos. Bravo!

  • Ace Batacan
    February 14, 2019 at 7:14 PM

    C – I love all the pictures especially the third one of the mother and baby. I’m sure you used a telephoto lens but how close were you? Just curious. Great job!

  • Joanne
    February 14, 2019 at 7:14 PM

    As always Charlotte, your talent and passion is so evident and abundantly displayed through your photos. Bravo!