Birds in Your Back Garden
Birds are one of the most visible of all backyard wildlife and given a little know-how will reward the patient photographer with some fantastic images.
What’s The Approach?
Most back gardens attract a good variety of birds, especially if you give them a helping hand by providing them with food, water and somewhere to breed. One big advantage of photographing garden birds is that they are likely to be more easily approached than their secretive country cousins. This means it’s often possible to capture frame-filling images by sitting quietly close to where they are feeding.
For more skittish species, use a small portable hide to conceal yourself, which will also ensure the birds behave naturally. Attract birds into your back garden by providing a range of foodstuffs as well as clean water in an accessible pool. Nest boxes erected in suitable spots will help encourage a greater number of species to your patch.
Best Time Of Day?
Birds tend to be active for most of the day, but often have a peak of activity early in the morning and again towards the end of the day.
What Gear Do I Need?
To capture a medium-sized bird at a decent size in the frame, you’ll need a telephoto lens of at least 300mm. If this is coupled with a camera that has a cropped sensor, then this effectively increases the magnification, which is very helpful when photographing birdlife. A camera that is capable of shooting at 4-5 frames per second or faster will increase your chances of capturing action shots.
Lighting & Composition
Timing your shoot to coincide with peak bird activity early in the day will also mean catching the attractive morning sunlight that will bring out the rich colours in a bird’s plumage. Shooting with front lighting often suits birds best, although some species work well when backlit. Soft overcast light is great for revealing plumage detail.
Isolation Wildlife Photography Awards 2020
The Isolation Wildlife Photography Awards, is without doubt a world first in photography. The aim was to showcase wildlife photos and videos created during the global lockdown, and show what can be achieved when faced with such unusual circumstances.
The winners have now been announced and theres some absolutely cracking entries. The competition aimed to encourage keen photographers to engage with wildlife “on their doorstep,” such as in a back garden or even within the home.
Jack Mortimer, who is studying at the University of the West of England, created the IWPA and said it was “literally born out of curiosity and boredom”. Over 2000 entries were submitted and sifted through by the judging panel.
“With the world currently either in lockdown or severely restricted, it’s important to stay occupied and focused. Wildlife has always had a calming impact, and so now more than ever we should be celebrating the animals around us that we are normally too busy to appreciate,” said judge and wildlife photographer Richard Peters. “It has hopefully given photographers the extra motivational push needed to really think outside the box and get creative.”
The overall winner of the competition is Luca Eberle with his image Basement Predators.
The overall winner of the competition is Luca Eberle with his image Basement Predators.
Below you’ll see the other worthy winners and their categories.
Wildlife In Your Garden
Wildlife In Your Home
Black and White
Under 12s
As nature photographers, the global lockdown we are now faced with is stopping us from getting out with our cameras. Whether this is your hobby or profession, losing this creative release is not making things any easier.
To help you through this, I’ve been searching through the Nature TTL virtual library and digging out our best articles that are perfect for this extended period of “time off.”
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, then you’re onto a winner. If not, carrying a camera with you during designated exercise periods is no problem. So you can’t go out to your local kingfisher hide for hours on end, but perhaps it’s time to try your hand at a different style?
With that in mind, here are some ideas for nature photography at home – or near to home – that you can use.
1. Butterflies and other beasties
It’s spring in the northern hemisphere and we’ve already had some fairly nice weather in the UK – shame about the timing, though.
Nevertheless, our favourite macro subjects are still running business as usual. Dragonflies are buzzing around ponds, and butterflies will soon be fluttering past the window.
Try honing your skills as a macro photographer. Remember, you don’t necessarily need to splash out on a macro lens!
2. Photograph the stars from the garden
If you’re lucky enough to live out of the city, why not try some star photography from the garden? This is an area we have written a huge amount of content for. This is a great way to pass the time, and it’s totally mesmerising. If you’ve never tried it, you’re missing out!
3. Search for pond residents
Got a pond? Well, you’re sorted! There is endless inspiration to be gathered from your pond. Playing host to everything from bugs to frogs and bathing birds, ponds are going to attract plenty of wildlife.
4. Camera traps in the garden
Have you explored the addictive world of wildlife camera trapping? It’s difficult to master and do well, but it is an incredibly rewarding challenge.
If you have a garden, set up a DSLR camera trap and see what creatures are patrolling your lawn at night.
Perhaps you know a landowner who will happily let you set one up (where legal). Take your lockdown walking breaks to go and check it, change the batteries and memory card, and then head home.
5. Flowers
Daffodils are up and about right now, and there’s plenty more floral inspiration to come. Usually find yourself photographing wildlife? Well, now is the perfect time to expand your skillset. Set yourself the challenge of capturing something interesting and more than a “basic” flower shot – how can you make your image different?
If you’re stuck in an apartment and can’t get to green spaces, why not order yourself some seeds or bulbs and grow your subject indoors? Set up a backdrop, good lighting, and see what studio macro work you can put together!
6. Urban wildlife
Perhaps you can’t stalk through the streets looking for foxes and other urban wildlife, but a lot of those subjects will be sneaking through gardens. Try your hand at some urban wildlife photography – but with a homely twist! Can you shoot from your garden window? Set up interesting props – spades, plant pots etc. – and see how creative you can get.
7. More unusual macro subjects
Depending on where you live, it’s very possible that we’ll wake up to some late frosts. There’s also going to be frogspawn in ponds and other more minute details to look out for.
8. Try a time-lapse
Something anyone can do, even from indoors, is to shoot a time-lapse. It might be of a natural scene, or it might be the flickering lights of a city at night. Either way, set up your tripod and try time-lapsing. We’ve all got plenty of time on our hands, so why not improve this skill?
9. Set up a garden hide
Throwing back to some of our oldest tutorials on the website, have you ever considered setting up your own hide and feeding station in the garden? You could even try a reflection pool to get beautiful images of your subjects.
