Without exception, light is one of THE most important aspects of photography.
Without diffused, even lighting, your photos can be totally ruined. When
planning a rainforest photography trip, I suggest you wait until there are
grey, light-coloured clouds in the sky, as they act as nature’s “diffuser”.

When photographing birds on sunny days, early mornings and late afternoons
are often the best, as the light is at its most subtle. If you are out photographing
during the middle of the day and the lighting is a tad harsh, especially for white
or yellow birds, I suggest reducing your exposure compensation setting to reduce
over-blown highlights.

For macro photography (such as flowers), try using a hand-held diffuser on bright
sunny days. The effect of using a portable diffuser in harsh lighting conditions is
quite remarkable. Try and position the diffuser as close to the flower as possible,
without getting the diffuser in view, and you will be surprised at the results.