2024 Unwrapped: A Journey with Petr Bambousek

Costa Rica, December 2024

I’m not sure if you’ve observed, but the conclusion of the year is nearing once again. When this occurred last year, I was both physically and mentally exhausted. I told myself it couldn’t continue this way, that I needed to decelerate and approach things differently. Another year has come and gone. I’m sitting here in exactly the same condition, with only one thought occupying my mind: This time, for real! However, let me be clear – it was (once again) a remarkable year! As they say, it was quite an adventure.

Text: Petr Bambousek
Translation: ChatGPT

OM System OM-1 II + OM 150-600mm/5.0 – 6.3 promotion

January – February

It all truly commenced in the autumn of 2023, when I had the privilege of testing the new 150–600mm lens from OM System alongside the updated version of my primary camera, the OM-1 Mark II. As both releases were slated for early in the year, I devoted my time to capturing and analyzing countless photographs to prepare content for articles, interviews, and photographers’ inquiries. The greatest challenge I faced was that until the official launch of the camera, its RAW files weren’t compatible with any of the editors I utilized. Well, there were a few exceptions. The original OM Workspace could handle them, but… let’s just say it’s not worth delving into specifics. Like all proprietary software from camera producers, it has the same oddities – images are viewable and editable, but the software’s design is so cumbersome that everything is sluggish, image rendering isn’t up to par compared to standard editors, and the interface is downright agonizing. Nevertheless, OM Workspace does provide precise colors and detailed EXIF information, including focus points, making it invaluable for presentations and analysis. Lightroom/Photoshop was among the first applications to ultimately support OM-1 II files, followed shortly by DxO PhotoLab 7. As if I wasn’t already occupied enough, I decided to engage more seriously in YouTube. I had been contemplating it for a long time, had plenty of ideas in mind, and finally started speaking to people as yet another talking head on the popular video platform. I found it enjoyable. Initially, I ambitiously aimed to release one video weekly, but that turned out unsustainable. I transitioned to an irregular schedule, fully aware that my first venture into the tropics would pause my video production for a bit. And sure enough, a series of events soon made producing more videos impossible. To add some more excitement, I started updating my OM-1 PDF tutorial with all the new functionalities of version II. At first, I intended to add just 3–5 pages, but that clearly wasn’t sufficient. Ultimately, I incorporated much more, revising almost every page of the original document. The result now exceeds 100 pages. So, there went January, February, and half of March, in a whirlwind of testing, writing articles, creating the PDF, filming YouTube videos, and discussing new gear available in the market. By mid-March, it was time for my first excursion to the tropics. I was submitting my final work from a hotel at Prague Airport – the first warning sign.

March – April

With everything prepared, I was finished as well. It was finally time for a journey to Ecuador with an incredible group of individuals. Everything was meticulously arranged and progressed seamlessly. Dozens of avian species posed for us – many of them were first encounters for me even after numerous trips. I returned in early April with 8,000 photographs, likely my record for a single excursion. My primary objective was to ensure my fellow travelers enjoyed the best photographic opportunities. Prior to the trip, I had been approached to contribute to forthcoming books by Karel Šťastný, a renowned figure in ornithology, about the birds of the globe. I couldn’t decline and committed to expand my species catalog on upcoming trips. Specifically, I intended to photograph additional tanagers and finally capture a good image of the Sword-billed Hummingbird. Though we had encountered it on nearly every trip to Ecuador, I had always concentrated on something else and realized I lacked a proper photo of it. If fate allowed, I also hoped to photograph the Torrent Duck, which inhabits similar environments and had diverted my attention from the hummingbird during earlier trips. This journey was a tremendous success: I included new tanagers, an abundance of Sword-billed Hummingbirds, and even managed to photograph the ducks. An unexpected incident occurred on the last day of the trip. While attempting to capture an image of my new Peak Design camera bag in the field, I stumbled over a rock, went airborne, and landed flat on my back. For a brief moment, I thought I was finished, as my back has always been my weak point. Luckily, I only bruised my thumb and wrist on my left hand. Though I didn’t realize it at the moment, the repercussions of that fall would linger into December.

A few snapshots from Ecuador 2024

April – May

Upon returning from Ecuador, I aimed to ease up. The initial quarter of the year had seamlessly persisted with last year’s unsustainable rhythm. To my surprise, I nearly succeeded during the initial two weeks. However, things escalated once more. Spring brought along its customary assortment of group and individual photography workshops, as well as numerous online sessions. I did manage to carve out some personal moments (not the magazine type). I even returned to cycling a few times, commenced rehabilitation for my back, and pursued therapy for my injured thumb and wrist. At first, the injuries weren’t too constraining, but I quickly realized I couldn’t hold a lens above – my wrist simply couldn’t endure it, and the discomfort overshadowed any pleasure. After utilizing a brace, the injuries improved over a couple of weeks, though my thumb still struggles to bend like it used to. Progress has been gradual. This duration had its peaks, including a partnership with DxO, whose software assists me in crafting my photographs. My work is highlighted on their platform, with a specific page in their Inspiration section. A few of my hummingbirds appear when users launch their software, and several images are accessible for exploring DxO’s features. When I return to producing YouTube videos, I will certainly discuss the software’s functionalities. I think it’s a fantastic alternative for anyone who doesn’t wish to subscribe to Adobe or Capture One. But let’s not jump ahead. Two and a half months sped by, and the season I’d been eagerly anticipating had finally arrived.

DxO Photolab 8 Pro interface and example of my profile page on DxO websites

June – August

The agenda for the upcoming months was unmistakable: first, a journey to the Pantanal, followed by preparing my apartment for a partial makeover, a brief holiday in Greece, and ultimately the long-anticipated expedition to Papua and Sulawesi. I didn’t get the chance to breathe until the end of August. Both journeys (Pantanal and Papua) were legendary, albeit for varying reasons. The Pantanal provided an astonishing variety of possibilities despite the intensifying drought that continues to afflict the area. Would you be interested in participating in an expedition to Pantanal in May/June 2025? Here are the specifics. I believe it will be another remarkable journey. Papua, conversely, was legendary for its sheer vigor. Daily early rises around 3 a.m., lengthy hikes through muddy jungles in the dark, endless waits for brief opportunities, basic lodgings, and the chance to snap photos of species I’d only encountered in literature. Another aspiration realized, yet also extreme physical fatigue. Could this definitively be the moment to take a pause?

A selection of images from Pantanal 2024

A selection of images from Papua & Sulawesi 2024

September – November

I was facing a period that I believed would let me address all the unfinished tasks of the year. Every chore I had delayed was now on the agenda. I had nearly three months of spare time. An opportunity for a new surge of courses, particularly personal ones. To enhance productivity, I treated myself to a new Apple Mac Mini M4. I intended to produce videos and the promised tutorials.

However, soon the inquiries began to pour in:
“Would you consider testing the new Peak Design Outdoor backpack?” – Well, of course, I currently have ample free time!
“Do you have availability for an online stream?” – Certainly, I have free time.
“Can you participate in an online Zoom meeting?” – Absolutely, I have free time.
“How about giving a lecture at a Polish nature photography festival?” – Definitely, I have free time.
“Could you compile a set of photographs?” – Sure, I have free time.
“We’re shooting a promo for the FotoŠkoda Fest, want to join?” – Without a doubt, I have free time.

What can I say? My definition of “free time” soon collided with the immense number of obligations I undertook. And as Viktor Chernomyrdin’s now-famous quote expresses: “We aimed to do it as flawlessly as possible, and it unfolded as it always does.”

Size comparison between Mac Mini M1 and Mac Mini M4

December

Thus, it came to pass that I embarked on the final journey of the year (to Costa Rica) once again completely worn out. But Costa Rica never lets you down – it always promises incredible travel and splendid photography opportunities. The initial week unfolded just as planned. However, as Woody Allen once famously remarked: “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.” In the second week, a tempest arrived with heavy showers and mist, leading to floods, landslides, lengthy traffic snarls, and restricting access to crucial spots – precisely where our adventure was supposed to peak. Farewell to tranquility, welcome improvisation, alterations to the itinerary, and trips to places we hadn’t intended to visit. This led to unexpected opportunities to snap photos of things we didn’t plan to observe at all. In the final moments of the adventure, it all concluded with a striking encounter: a boa constrictor in the center of a dusty path, suffocating an iguana. As the saying goes: “Every cloud has a silver lining.” I returned once more with a plethora of photographs, although I only found time to edit a handful.

A selection of photos from Costa Rica 2024

What are my intentions for 2025?

Upon coming back from Costa Rica, events unfolded swiftly. Now I find myself here post-Christmas, and my Mac Mini M4 is inquiring: What’s our plan? Are we going to produce those promised videos, tutorials, and other projects? Yes, my friend, we will. In just a few days, it’ll be New Year’s Eve. We’ll draw a firm line and begin anew. This time, for real. No kidding. I’ve allocated January and February 2025 as free and have a year filled with ambitions. A new website, a video course on flash photography, another on Lightroom, fresh YouTube videos, organizing photo trips, documenting my travel adventures, starting work on my photography book, conducting personal courses, setting off on new adventures, splitting the atom… I’ve arranged everything meticulously. It’s bound to succeed, right? What could possibly go amiss…

OM SYSTEM AMBASSADOR | I am a professional wildlife photographer who over the past 20 years undertook more than 40 photo expeditions to tropical rainforests across the world. You may have seen my photos in various exhibitions, on the Internet and many Czech and foreign magazines and books. A number of my photographs were awarded at local and overseas competitions such as the Czech Press Photo, Nature’s Best Photography, Bird Photographer of the Year, Sony World Photography Awards, Big Picture Awards, Nactus Awards or the most acclaimed one – the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. At this particular competition, my photographs were not only in the Final but also, one of my finalist images became a central promotional piece of the whole 2015 WPY travelling exhibition. If you enjoy my work, don’t forget to visit my Photogallery and connect to my Facebook profile.