Rainforest Elopement – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica 2015

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This adventurous couple love getting off the beaten path, and decided to get married in the rainforest of Costa Rica. They had a dream of getting married by a waterfall, and after bouncing around few ideas we decided on the private rainforest reserve of Rainmaker. I met the bride and groom at their hotel, The Mansion Inn, were Monica was just finishing the bride’s hair and makeup. We took a few photos with the spectacular view from the Mansion, then a quick stop at the beach to get just a few photos there, before heading into the rainforest. The ceremony took place be a beautiful waterfall and we got fantastic photographs of the bride and groom on Rainmaker’s hanging bridges, surrounded by nature. A memorable adventure for a wonderful couple…

Wedding Officiate: Rodrigo Campos
Hair and Makeup by Monica

https://www.weddingphotoscostarica.com/rainforest-wedding-costa-rica

Wedding in Dominical – Costa Rica – May 2014

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This couple love to surf, so they decided to come down to Dominical, Costa Rica for a surfing vacation and to get married. The ceremony took place with the bride and groom stood on some volcanic rocks by the Pacific Ocean’s edge. We got some great beach photos and I love the sequence with the wish lanterns…gorgeous! I even got a couple of photos of the couple with their surf boards in their VW Camper Van…then the party kicked off at Roca Verde, a great night!

Last weekend I did a follow up shoot with the bride and groom, I got them in the surf and even paddle boarding in their wedding gear…photos to come!

Romantic Beach Wedding – Manuel Antonio – Costa Rica April 2014

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How do I describe this beach wedding? ” Fun and romantic with a twist of vintage chique”…sounds about right! This fun-loving couple chose Playa Espadilla, Manuel Antonio’s famous beach for their wedding day; the aisle was decorated with whimsical bunches of soft pink roses. After the ceremony we took some photos on the beach, even climbed some trees and let off a beautiful wish lantern. Then the wedding party returned to their rental home, Casa Las Brisas; for a wonderful dinner on the roof top terrace….a perfect day!

This wedding was organized by wonderful Chelsea from Oasis Weddings in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. Chelsea is also one of Costa Rica’s finest cake bakers and made their spectacular wedding cake.

Location: Manuel Antonio Beach and Casa Las Brisas a gorgeous vacation rental by Escape Villas

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
John

Health, Healing and Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica

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I recently did a photography project for Samana Health Retreats. They were running a retreat at the beautiful Mareas Resort in Uvita, Costa Rica. Sisters, Ashley and Julie lead amazing health retreats blending naturopathic medicine, nutrition and the physical and spiritual practices of yoga. Ashley is a Naturopathic Doctor and Julie is a certified yoga instructor and holistic health coach, making a highly knowledgeable, talented and fun team. I think the photos really show the energy and joy they have in their practices…. love the light! 

For more information on these retreats, please visit www.samanahealthretreats.com
When not holding retreats, Julie is based in New York, if you would like more information about her Yoga classes,  please visit www.thesamanaproject.com

Namaste!
John

Wedding at Los Sueños Resort – Costa Rica – March 2014

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This wedding couple love fishing, so what better to have their wedding but at a marina in Costa Rica. The Los Sueños Resort and Marina in Herradura is on the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and has great sportfishing! Apart from the bride and groom the star of the show was their bulldog “Chancho” looking very suave in his bow-tie. The wedding took place on the lawn of the Los Sueños resort and then there was a reception dinner, dancing to a fantastic music group, a fabulously fun photo booth and to top it off fireworks. Did I mention the bride and groom like fishing? …check out the cake topper!

 

Wedding at Ylang Ylang Beach Resort Montezuma Costa Rica March 2014

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This colorful and fun wedding took place at the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma last month. The wedding took place under a wooden arch on the beach in front of YlangYlang. After the ceremony we took photos on the beach and then the wedding party returned to YlangYlang for the reception. After a wonderful dinner, the bride and groom had their first dance, I LOVE the passion captured in these photos. Then onto the beach for a bonfire and fireworks…what an amazing night!


This wedding was organized by the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort  in Montezuma, Costa Rica.

Hasta Pronto!
John

Surprise Beach Wedding – Manuel Antonio Costa Rica February 2014

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February is the month for romance! We’ve had the fabulously romantic sailboat engagement and now a surprise wedding!
When my good friend called me, telling me that her cousin wanted to surprise her boyfriend with a wedding, I thought..this is going to be FUN!
The couple were engaged but had just not got round to tying the knot, so this was a great relaxed way to it do it. To entice the unsuspecting groom the Tulemar Beach in Manuel Antonio we made up a story about my friend needing some photos done. And when they arrived at the beach there was an officiant and flowers…the fiancee was over joyed and it was a lovely simply beach ceremony….ahh vive la romance!


Have a wonderful weekend!

John

Architectural Photography – Casa Bamboo Costa Rica 2014

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I recently photographed a gorgeous house called Casa Bamboo, the owner wanted some good photos for vacation rental marketing. This luxury villa is located in  a small village called Dominicalito on Costa Rica’s central Pacific Coast, between Dominical and Uvita. The villa has outstanding ocean views, I love the windows in the living room fill the house with light. This house is really interesting with it’s many angles and balconies pointed towards the ocean.
There are many beautiful vacation rental houses in Costa Rica, so good professional photographs can really make a huge difference in the marketing of your vacation rental. Your potential renters can really feel the essence of a vacation home and imagine themselves sitting on the terrace or by the pool watching the sunset and listening to the sounds of the jungle.

Please go to my website to see more examples of architectural photography in Costa Rica www.johnwilliamsonphotography.net

I am now on pinterest too – check out my new photos.

John

Wedding at Ylang Ylang Beach Resort Montezuma Costa Rica January 2014

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This whimsical romantic wedding took place at the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort last weekend. The bride and her two sisters looked stunning with flowers woven into in their long tresses.  The wedding took place under a wooden arch in Ylang Ylang’s beautiful gardens right next to the beach. The whole vibe of the wedding reminded me of Shakespeare’s a “Midsummer Night’s Dream”, specially when we started playing with the star projector (see second to last image). The last photo I took walking back along the beach from Ylang Ylang to the village in Montezuma. Looking out to the water, I saw the phosphorescence dancing in the waves. I magical end to a magically romantic wedding, all is missing is Puck on a surfboard!


This wedding was organized by the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort  in Montezuma, Costa Rica.

Hasta Pronto!
John

Costa Rica’s Phosphorescent Waves – 2014

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Several year ago I was in Montezuma photographing a wedding at the Ylang Ylang beach Resort. That night walking back along the beach after the ceremony, I was amazed be the phosphorescence in the water.

This weekend, again I was walking back after a wedding at Ylang Ylang and looking out to the ocean I could see an incredible phosphorescent light show in the water.  I stopped for about an hour playing with my camera and taking some amazing long exposure photos. Even as I stepped in the waves I could see the phosphorescence sparkling around my feet in the wet sand, it was a magical photo session.

Nature Photography in Costa Rica - John Williamson Nature Photography in Costa Rica - John Williamson

The first photo is a 3 1/2 minute Exposure, I love the movement of the water around the rocks, it gives a really ghostly appearance.

The second photo was a 7 minutes exposure. The streaks in the sky are the star moving and the lights on the water are fishing boats in the distance. I am proud to say that this photo was selected by the National Geographic to be their lead image in their weekly space gallery!

Why does this magic light show occur? Certain types of oceanic plankton produce a phosphorescence in a chemical response to the energy produced by the waves movement.

If you would like to see the 2012 of the phosphorescence go to Costa Rica’s Phosphorescent Waves . The photo from 2012 was selected for National Geographic’s Daily Dozen you can compare both photos from 2012 and 2014 on my NatGeo site.

Have a great week,  To find out more about what I am up to follow my Facebook Page and to see more of my Nature and Landscape Photography visit my website

John

Architectural Photography – Villa Ambiente Costa Rica 2013

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I have recently been working on an architectural photography project of Villa Ambiente. This eight bedroom luxury villa is located in  a small village called Dominicalito on Costa Rica’s central Pacific Coast, between Dominical and Uvita. The villa has outstanding ocean views and a beautiful outdoor living space to them.. The cocktail bar looking over the ocean is amazing. The eight bedroom are all set off an plant-filled inner atrium ..tropical living at it’s best!

There are many beautiful vacation rental houses in Costa Rica, so good professional photographs can really make a huge difference in the marketing of your vacation rental. Your potential renters can really feel the essence of a vacation home and imagine themselves sitting on the terrace or by the pool watching the sunset and listening to the sounds of the jungle.

Would you like to stay here? Look here for information on renting Villa Ambiente.

The Night Tour with “The Bug Lady” – Drake Bay, Costa Rica

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Last week I photographed a wedding in Drake Bays in the Osa Peninsula, this area is renowned as the most untouched zone on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.  It’s a few hours drive and boat ride from my home in Manuel Antonio, so I decided whilst I was there to enjoy and photograph some of this wild and abundant nature.
I had heard of “the Big Lady” of Drakes Bay through friends, so booked a tour. Tracie and Gianfranco have been living and guiding in the area for 15 years, and know everything about the local bugs, snakes and creepy crawlies. Their 2 1/2 hour hike is PACKED with critters as Tracie and Gianfranco tag-team to find a specimen and then explain fascinating details about it. My favorite is the Trapdoor Spider, though I am not sure I will EVER be able to find one on my own…I will just have to go back!

Red-eyed Tree Frog -Agalychris callidryas
Red-eyed Tree Frog -Agalychris callidryas
Pygmy Rain Frog – Pristimantis ridens
Common Rain Frog – Craugastor fitzingeri
Smoky Jungle Frog – Leptodactylus savagei
Tailless Whip Scorpion – Order: Amblypygi likely Paraphyrnus sp.
Northern Cat-eyed Snake – Leptodeira septentrionalis
Northern Cat-eyed Snake – Leptodeira septentrionalis
Chunk-headed Snake – Imantodes cenchoa
Burrowing Tarantula – Aphonopelma crinirufum
Long-jawed Jumping Spider – Lyssomanes sp.
Trapdoor Spider – Ummidia sp.
Trapdoor Spider – Ummidia sp.
Netcasting Spider – Deinopis longipes
Netcasting Spider – Deinopis longipes
Bulldog Fishing Bat – Noctilio leporinus
Moth killed by Cordyceps Fungus – Cordyceps sp.

Location – Drakes Bay, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Thanks to Tracie and Gianfranco for identifying all my photos, you can find details of their outstanding Night Tour on their website.

Wedding at Copa de Arbol, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica November 2013

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A wedding in the Osa Peninsula? A couple hours drive, followed by an hour boat ride along a jungle rivers and into Drakes Bay, sounds like an adventure, but that is only the beginning!
This wedding couple visited the Copa de Arbol Hotel on vacation and decided that this was where they had to get married surrounded by their closest friends and family. The Copa de Arbol Hotel is new luxury resort in an area renowned as the most untouched on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.  The hotel is not accessible by car, only a short boat ride from Drakes Bay or an hours hike along a coastal jungle trail.
At the end of the night,  I had beautiful moonlit hike back along the trail to my accommodation in Drakes Bay…it’s all part of the job of being a Photographer is Costa Rica, and going that extra mile….literally!


Location- Copa de Arbol, Caletas, Nr. Drakes Bay, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Hope you enjoy these photos I love the light in the beach portraits, just magical. I will be posting photos soon from another night hike I did with a local entomologist in Drake Bay.

Beach Elopement – Montezuma Costa Rica November 2013

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Montezuma is a laid back artsy little town on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. A perfect location for this couple from Canada! This elopement wedding took place on the beach, there was a little sprinkle during the ceremony, but that did not stop us…it’s lucky too!


This wedding was organized by the Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma. The Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma, Costa Rica is wonderful place for a destination wedding. Montezuma itself is a small colorful artist-filled town and it’s just a short walk along the beach to Ylang Ylang’s secluded bungalows set in lush tropical gardens.

John

Wedding at Ylang Ylang Beach Resort Montezuma Costa Rica November 2013

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This French Canadian couple got married on the beach in front of the beautiful Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma, Costa Rica. The wedding was conducted in both French and English. The bride wore red and she looked stunning and I love how the red pops out against the darkening sky. The group returned to the hotel for a fun reception party and then had a bonfire on the beach. Check out the last photo of the couple next to bonfire, I managed to capture a lightening bolt over the ocean for an epic wedding photo!


This wedding was organized by the beautiful Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma.

Rainforest Wedding Photography – Rainmaker Costa Rica 2013

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This newly married couple tied the knot back at home and decided to bring their wedding gear on honeymoon to Costa Rica get some unique jungle wedding photos. We headed to the rainforest reserve of Rainmaker to get some fantastic photographs of the bride and groom in jungle waterfalls and on Rainmaker’s hanging bridges….love and nature entwined!


Location – Rainmaker, a rainforest reserve located just north of Quepos (between Parrita and Paquita) on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica

Wedding at Hotel Parador Manuel Antonio Costa Rica August 2013

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This destination wedding was held at the beautiful Hotel Parador in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. The Parador has beautiful grounds and amazing views of the Manuel Antonio coast. This intimate wedding took place in the morning on one of the hotels private ocean view terraces. A morning wedding is a great choice for the rainy season, as mornings tend to be beautiful blue skies and sunny. After the wedding ceremony the wedding party enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the hotel. Then I took the bride and groom headed to the Manuel Antonio Beach for some romantic couple photos…a great day!

This wedding was organized by the wonderful wedding planning team at  Hotel Parador.

Wedding at Villa Caletas, Costa Rica July 2013

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An ivory rose petal aisle over looking the Pacific Ocean, was the scene for this beautiful wedding at Zephyr Palace in Villa Caletas, Costa Rica. The guests were seated in see-through chairs..perfect not to interrupt the ocean view. The bride looked stunning in a gorgeous ivory gown whilst the bridesmaids were in colorful silks. The wedding party then had a wonderful meal the tables decorated in colorful mix of purple and topical oranges. The party then kicked of with music and dancing until late…a pleasure to photograph! Another great wedding organized by Weddings Costa Rica.


Wedding Planner – Weddings Costa Rica
Location- Villa Caletas

Wedding at Ylang Ylang Beach Resort Montezuma Costa Rica February 2013

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The Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma, Costa Rica is wonderful place for a destination wedding. Montezuma itself is a small colorful artist-filled town and it’s just a short walk along the beach back to Ylang Ylang’s secluded bungalows set in lush tropical gardens.
An added bonus is that for me to get to Montezuma from Manuel Antonio on the Central Pacific coast I need to take a speed boat…Awesome!!
The wedding took place in the grounds of the beautiful Ylang Ylang Beach Resort followed by fun photos on the beach and a then the guest returned for an amazing dinner at the Resort.


This wedding was organized by the beautiful Ylang Ylang Beach Resort in Montezuma.

A Persian Wedding at Villa Caletas Costa Rica January 2013

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This beautiful Persian wedding was a marvelous to photograph with the bright colors of the flowers and dresses against the stunning backdrop of the of the ocean.  The family set up a traditional Sofreye Aghd or Wedding Spread, this includes pastries, herbs, salt, candles, mirrors and a blessed bread, which was specially baked with calligraphy written on it. Another Persian tradition, a bright blue shawl which is held over the bride and grooms heads during the ceremony. The wedding ceremony took place at sunset on Villa Caleta’s incredible private amphitheater. The wedding party then moved to the spectacular  Zephyr Palace, Villa Caletas wedding reception venue for dinner and dancing.