Forum:Photographing Nature in Your Own Backyard
For: NVPS on Tuesday 26 March, 2013
By: Wayne Wolfersberger – Nature Is Wild Photography
Web site: waynewolfersberger.com
e-mail: wayne.wolfersberger@gmail.com
Equipment Needed – Just a basic camera and lens.
A zoom telephoto is helpful; the long end works best for close-ups.
Next – purchase a diopter but of good quality for edge to edge sharpness. It will
enable you to focus much close for macro work only.
Other items that may work are extension tubes and teleconverters.
You don’t have to carry equipment very far, from back door to yard.
Start with Flowers and Plants– Because they are found everywhere.
They don’t move unless the wind blows.
They are colorful, long lasting and you can shoot them in their prime.
Every one likes looking at them.
Shooting Wildlife – Includes any “critter” from big to tiny.
Insects and other invertebrates are all over the home landscape.
Deer, foxes, rabbits and others may occasionally visit your yard.
Squirrels (“bushy tailed tree rats”) are always around – if you have trees.
Birds are great any time in the year and easily attracted.
Give them food (but if you do so, continue in the winter)
Give them water, at least a birdbath. Moving water does not freeze up.
Give they a place to nest – build or buy birdhouses and plant shrubs.
Macrophotography – Photographing small subjects gives a new perspective of nature.
Tiny subjects are not evident until you “look for” and photography them.
Close ups reveal nature’s unique beauty and design.
Nature can become very abstract in nature.
Equipment can be quite inexpensive.
Weather Conditions – You can take advantage of changing weather, and come in any
time it gets too hot, cold or wet. Relax and then go back outside if you wish.
You don’t have to carry your equipment into bad weather conditions.
You can take a break from being insideand shoot between rain showers.
You know the territory and angle of sun, direction of sunrise and set.
Unique Techniques–From the simple and cheap to more complex and expensive.
Windy, come inside.
No rain, make your own.
Not enough light, use flash.
Subject not in good light or position, some are easily moved.
Make use of backgrounds, clothespins, beanbags, etc.
Bring nature to your yard by purchasing/collecting elsewhere.
Build small sets & photograph inside or outside. You will have total control.
Add a water feature (small pond) to your yard. Then you can plant around it with
native plants & bring in critters (frogs, aquatic insects etc.) to fill it. Add a pump to keep water flowing – you will have open water for birds in the freezing winter.