Knowing your own backyard
I often get asked where I go to get my wildlife photos, and every time the answers the same, ‘not far!’ The vast majority of my photographs are quite literally taken within a couple of miles of my home; knowing my own backyard has quite literally been the key to recording intimate portraits of Roe Deer, Red Foxes and other local residents.
In my own experience recording great wildlife shots is all about your field skills, and I don’t mean your ability to erect a bivwack in a cyclone or any of that kind of Bear Grylls tomfoolery. What I mean is getting to know your local area, in a word your hunting grounds.
Knowing my local area has given me more of an understanding of the flora and fauna I can find in it, and as a result has provided me with a rich source of inspiring material. I have learnt to return to favourite spots to photograph Roe Deer, learnt where Red Foxes are likely to be found year in year out, and importantly learnt to predict the effects of lighting on the local landscape in order to increase my chances of getting a decent shot.
By my own admission I’m not the most patient of wildlife photographers, knowing my local area like the back of my hand and getting to know the habits of the local inhabitants has meant that I can, more often than not, find what I’m looking for relatively quickly. However this still doesn’t always guarantee me the perfect photograph every time I pick up my camera and put on my walking boots.
Familiarity with your immediate vicinity will stand you in good stead in your pursuit of great wildlife photos. For me, right now it’s a task I am starting afresh. Having recently moved into a new home in a different area of Dorset I am busy getting out and about whenever I can to get to know my new backyard.
