Laura Stansfield Photography

Laura Stansfield Photography Wildlife and Landscape Photography

My happy place is being outdoors and photographing nature

A splash of color in the Costa Rican cloud forest. 💚💛While wandering through a mountain orchard, I spotted this stunning...
06/14/2026

A splash of color in the Costa Rican cloud forest. 💚💛

While wandering through a mountain orchard, I spotted this stunning Golden-browed Chlorophonia taking a brief pause between bites of ripe red apples. These small fruit-loving birds are often heard before they're seen, moving through the canopy in search of berries and fruit. When one finally landed in the open, its brilliant greens, yellows, and flashes of blue seemed almost too vibrant to be real.

Moments like this are one of the reasons I love photographing wildlife—sometimes nature gives you just a few seconds to appreciate something extraordinary before it disappears back into the forest.

One of Costa Rica's most iconic sounds isn't a bird at all—it's the howl of a howler monkey. These impressive primates c...
06/13/2026

One of Costa Rica's most iconic sounds isn't a bird at all—it's the howl of a howler monkey. These impressive primates can weigh up to 20 pounds, and their deep, guttural roars can travel nearly 3 miles through the rain forest. The sound has been compared to a mix of a lion's roar, a strong wind, and a distant motorcycle engine echoing through the jungle.

Despite their fierce voices, howler monkeys are mostly peaceful vegetarians, spending much of their day feeding on tender new leaves, shoots, flowers, and fruit. This curious monkey paused long enough for a portrait while enjoying a fresh rain forest snack.

Sometimes the most familiar birds are also the most charming. This little Rufous-collared Sparrow paused just long enoug...
06/12/2026

Sometimes the most familiar birds are also the most charming. This little Rufous-collared Sparrow paused just long enough for a portrait, its warm cinnamon collar standing out against the lush green backdrop of Costa Rica. While many visitors search for colorful toucans and quetzals, it's often these everyday birds that quietly steal the show.

A tiny traveler with a big appetite.This Red-necked Phalarope was busy working the shallows, darting across the water's ...
06/11/2026

A tiny traveler with a big appetite.

This Red-necked Phalarope was busy working the shallows, darting across the water's surface in search of its next meal. I love how the splash of water tells the story of a bird that's constantly on the move. Despite its delicate appearance, this little shorebird migrates thousands of miles between its breeding grounds in the Arctic and wintering areas far out at sea.

Sometimes the smallest birds have the biggest adventures.

The rainforest comes alive after dark. 🌿🐸One of Costa Rica's most iconic residents, the Red-eyed Tree Frog, pauses long ...
06/10/2026

The rainforest comes alive after dark. 🌿🐸

One of Costa Rica's most iconic residents, the Red-eyed Tree Frog, pauses long enough for a portrait. Those brilliant red eyes, electric blue sides, and bright orange feet almost look too colorful to be real—but nature has a way of creating masterpieces that no artist could improve upon.

Tiny in size but overflowing with personality. This adorable White-throated Mountain Gem paused just long enough for me ...
06/09/2026

Tiny in size but overflowing with personality. This adorable White-throated Mountain Gem paused just long enough for me to admire the incredible iridescent greens, shimmering feathers, and oversized attitude that hummingbirds seem to carry everywhere they go. Found high in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, these little jewels are a reminder that some of nature's most spectacular creations come in the smallest packages. 💚✨

Every time I photograph a hummingbird, I'm amazed at how something so delicate can be so fearless. For a brief moment, this mountain gem sat quietly on a moss-covered perch before darting off into the forest like a tiny emerald rocket.

We've all had those moments where the landing doesn't quite go as planned... apparently young tanagers do too. 😄This juv...
06/08/2026

We've all had those moments where the landing doesn't quite go as planned... apparently young tanagers do too. 😄

This juvenile tanager in Costa Rica was coming in for a landing when I caught this wonderfully awkward pose—one wing up, one foot searching for the perch, and gravity doing its best to keep things interesting. While the adults make it look effortless, young birds spend weeks learning the fine art of flying, balancing, and landing. Sometimes those lessons are a little less graceful than others.

For me, it's these imperfect moments that make wildlife photography so rewarding. They remind us that every expert was once a beginner.

Looking more like a tiny stuffed animal than a bird, this young White-whiskered Puffbird sat quietly in the Costa Rican ...
06/07/2026

Looking more like a tiny stuffed animal than a bird, this young White-whiskered Puffbird sat quietly in the Costa Rican rain forest while keeping a curious eye on the world around him. With his fluffy feathers, oversized feet, and those striking blue-gray eyes, it's hard not to smile when you come across a little guy like this. Sometimes the rain forest's biggest treasures come in the smallest packages.

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