An island adventure: first shoot with the Canon RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM

From the sun-drenched beaches of Fiji to the frozen wilds of Antarctica, wildlife and adventure travel photographer Lucia Griggi has toured the globe, initially as a surf photographer and more recently on wildlife shoots in some of the world's most dramatic landscapes. Such diverse environments demand rugged and versatile kit – so Lucia was the ideal pro to test the capabilities of the Canon RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM.

With the Canon RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM and a Canon EOS R6 in her kitbag, Lucia took a voyage to the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland to photograph its landscapes, its wildlife and its people. The RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM's light weight, compact design and versatility enabled her to access an abundance of photo opportunities unique to these special islands.

Lucia's goal was to photograph her exploration by boat, car and foot, embracing spontaneity along the way. The adventure took her to the Isle of Mull with its rolling hills and diverse marine life. She also toured the outcrops of Iona by boat – capturing its bird cliffs and the resident seals, dolphins and cormorants.

"The shoot consisted of landscape, wildlife and portraiture," explains Lucia. "I was excited because I've always had a 70-200mm lens in my kitbag – it's such a staple lens. I was keen to see how a setup that I'd use on say my Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III) would translate with the RF lens.

"The fact that the lens is so light meant it was really versatile – but the quality is still there. I could hold it with one hand, so it offered me the flexibility to get into positions which might have been more of a struggle with a heavier lens."

The rapid, quiet and precise autofocus made possible by the Dual Nano USM (ultrasonic motors) in the Canon RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM meant Lucia was able to photograph the wildlife on her journey in its natural habitat, without causing a disturbance. This near-silent continuous focusing, combined with the eye-tracking technology of the silent Canon EOS R6, enabled Lucia to achieve sharp tracking shots of the swimming otter.

"I could hear the otter breathing. It was so silent, just me, the otter and the stillness of the water. They're the moments that I take home. That's what drives me and keeps me alive. The lens focused quickly and the fact it was so quiet helped me to get that shot. Every single texture on the otter was pin-sharp," she says.

Ocean-obsessed Lucia spends up to six months at a time on board expedition vessels documenting the last frontiers, from Siberia to Antarctica, and is just as at home photographing underwater as she is above it. On the Isle of Mull, she got a chance to put the Canon RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM to the test shooting multiple portraits aboard a fishing boat. The lens really came into its own for Lucia thanks to its versatile focal length and its closer focusing down to 0.6m.

"We were on the water with local fisherman in their 80s, who had fished all their lives. I was planning to shoot portraits of the guys on an adjacent boat, but then I turned around and saw this beautiful portrait of the man driving the boat I was on. The light was coming through and he had this sketchbook. Then he spontaneously picked up one of the crab pots to show me the crabs," says Lucia.

"Without this lens that would have been a missed shot. If I'd had a wide-angle, I'd have needed to get really close and it wouldn't have worked. The Canon RF 70-200MM F4L IS USM is fantastic for that kind of shooting. To be able to focus closer eliminated the need for another lens."

"What I love about an expedition is that, in my eyes, it's more about the journey than the destination," says Lucia. Adventures force her to slow down, take in the sights and use different modes of transport.

"When hiking, you can access little nooks or spot otters! When driving you're able to stop on the way and get your landscape shots. The nice thing about travelling this way is that you can see the progression of where you're going and the slightly different climate or times of day.

"When I sailed back from Mull to the mainland, it was the most stunning evening. The sky was blood red and the light turned the hills into layers of shadows." Proving that when you embrace the journey and pause to absorb the moment, that's when the magic unfolds.