Nothing is more rewarding than capturing shots of animals roaming free in their natural habitat. Singapore-based award-winning wildlife photographers and filmmakers, Jayaprakash Bojan and Dan Ng have come together once again to document the diverse wildlife found in the rainforests of Borneo and the Leuser Ecosystem.

After filming their first video together in 2020, Jayaprakash and Dan continued working closely as frequent collaborators, making films as an ode to the rich biodiversity that can be found in Southeast Asia. Apart from being passionate photographers and filmmakers, Jayaprakash and Dan are true blue nature lovers who seek to educate the public on the importance of conservation and protection of wildlife, using film and photography as a medium.

To capture the diverse wildlife of Borneo, Jayaprakash and Dan brought the all-new Alpha 7R V which comes with a newly developed AI processing unit into the dense rainforest, testing the new camera to its limit.

Keeping up with unpredictable wildlife

The rainforest has always been a special place for both Jayaprakash and Dan. A hideaway teeming with various species of endangered creatures, there is always a rare find hidden within the lush foliage. To capture these animals and their priceless interactions, the duo needed a camera that could shoot not just stills, but also videos. With the hybrid capabilities packed within one camera, Jayaprakash and Dan could capture blink-and-miss moments without a hitch. Furthermore, the continuous autofocus tracking in the Alpha 7R V nailed the focus on constantly moving creatures even as they moved through the trees, allowing the duo to capture every shot with tack-sharp clarity.

The Alpha 7R V’s dedicated AI processing unit brought significant advancements to subject recognition performance in an Alpha camera body. Apart from animals, its enhanced subject recognition extends to insects, making it the perfect camera for wildlife and nature photographers and videographers everywhere.

In addition to the Alpha 7R V camera body, Jayaprakash and Dan armed themselves with a wide range of lenses for their shoot:

• FE 20mm F1.8 G
• FE 50mm F1.2 GM
• FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
• FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Not only did these lenses support the Alpha 7R V’s AI processing unit in tracking subjects with tenacious, continuous AF. They also captured subjects hidden within the dense foliage in crisp clarity.

Built to withstand dust and moisture, these lenses allowed the duo to shoot confidently in the rainy, muddy conditions of the rainforest. The 1.4x Teleconverter also came in handy to extend the reach of the telephoto lenses used while preserving a high image resolution, making it especially helpful for shooting elusive creatures from a distance.

“There are no second chances to capture wildlife when you are in a rainforest,” Jayaprakash said in regard to the gear that he uses for his expeditions into the wild. “Your camera and lenses will have to perform well.”

Getting up close and personal with nature

When shooting in a muddy rainforest with rough and uneven terrain, it is harder to mount a camera on a tripod. Not to mention, it can be tricky setting up a tripod when one is constantly on the move. Now, with the Alpha 7R V's improved Active Mode for video and 8-stops of in-body image stabilisation for stills, Jayaprakash and Dan can now enjoy the ease of handheld shooting without worrying about camera shake. Their footage was recorded in remarkable clarity, even in the dim lighting of the rainforest where canopies hang overhead.

Sometimes, the most elusive creatures hide in tree branches or stay close to the ground to hide from predators. It can be tricky getting up close as the animal might get startled easily. With the  Alpha 7R V’s 4-axis Multi-angle LCD monitor, Jayaprakash and Dan could capture shots from low angles, leaving a safe distance between them and their subject. Even in situations where the photo needs to be cropped closer to the subject, the duo can easily do so without reducing the image quality, thanks to the Alpha 7R V’s exceptional 61MP resolution.

To bring out the creatures of the rainforest in their full glory, Jayaprakash and Dan used the FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS telephoto lens with an 11-blade circular aperture to blur out the subject’s surroundings, allowing the duo to capture striking images of their subjects with a deep, creamy background blur and making it appear as though the subject is right in front of us.

Preserving the last of our fragile ecosystems

As avid wildlife photographers and filmmakers, the Alpha 7R V ticked all the boxes for Jayaprakash and Dan. Not only did it ease their process of gathering footage and stills of the rainforest’s most majestic creatures. It also enabled them to take their storytelling to new heights, raising awareness of wildlife conservation and protecting the very last hidden sanctuaries on Earth.

“These rainforests are the last haven for some of the most critically endangered species in the world,” Jayaprakash said. “Hopefully, we will continue to preserve these highly biodiverse forests, full of life, for those who will come after us.”