Skip to main content

Photographing Backyard Wildlife

Red-Eyed Tree Frog - Costa Rica
Taken with tripod, cable release and head lamps ( more easily found at night)
Canon 100mm macro lens

Ah, the challenges of photographing wildlife.  There are times we have taken photo workshop adventures, or gone somewhere with the sole intent of taking beautiful and interesting photographs.  For planned trips we always have a tripod, cable release, and  time to set up our shots. 
Poison-dart Frog (Mr. Bluejeans) - Costa Rica
Tripod, cable release, off-camera flash, 100mm macro lens

But when not on an excursion, we do find the backyard an excellent spot to view wildlife, and grab some unexpected shots.    For instance, this year we had a Killdeer nest in the middle of our yard.  She was undisturbed enough to lay 4 beautiful eggs, and hatch 3 fluffy chicks.  The nest was rather far away and we didn't want to disturb her, so the shots from our dining room window didn't turn out to be anywhere near excellent shots - but a record shot of extraordinary events is just fine with me! 
Killdeer eggs
Hand-held, ISO 100, 24-70mm zoom lens, Program mode
Killdeer and Chicks
Tripod, ISO 400 to help stop movement, 70-200mm lens, Program mode

The bird feeders attract an assortment of birds, as I've written about before.  But they also attract the ground squirrels and rabbits.  Again, the dining room window is our perfect viewing area.
Mother Sparrow feeds her hungry brood.
Tripod used, and Canon 70-200 zoom lens.
Caught in the act, this rabbit had been gorging on bird seed from under the feeder.
Hand-held shot, 70-200mm lens, ISO 400 to help freeze motion.

And this year, the most unexpected backyard experience occurred at the feeders again.  Walking to the kitchen to refill my ice tea glass I happened to glance outside that favorite dining room window and to my surprise was met with my favorite grab-shot of the summer.   How can you beat this for unexpected finds?
White-tailed deer
Hand-held, ISO 400, 100mm lens, Program mode

Don't you just love surprises?  Have you had any unexpected finds lately?
Labels:

Comments

Scott Law said…
You did get some nice surprises and that is a beautiful little deer.
June 24, 2012 at 6:06 PM
S. Etole said…
What fun window views. I've seen an Indigo Bunting a couple of times but never long enough to photograph. Just their brilliant color makes my day though.
June 24, 2012 at 8:54 PM
joyce said…
I don't know what a cable release is, nor do I understand how to use ISO speeds, and I know I would not want to step on one of those frogs at night, but those speckled eggs are more special than any Easter egg..but the deer at the feeder made me laugh out loud!
June 26, 2012 at 10:53 PM
Sandy K. said…
The colors of nature are wonderful, don't you think? And Joyce, it doesn't matter what camera you use, or lens, it's appreciation for the site before you:). Yes...laugh-out-loud funny is a good thing!
July 4, 2012 at 8:53 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Blast from the Past

Very hard to photograph at night, with a poor little cell phone.  But you get the idea. (Look for the family photo hidden within this picture). Las Vegas - Old School A week ago I joined the "kids" for a walk down memory lane.  I helped them clean out their father's house in Las Vegas, following his recent death, and we found so much history and memorabilia from the life and times of their father, grandfather and great-grandfather, as well as other grandparents and relatives.  One of the bonuses to cleaning out houses of people who don't throw anything away, is finding treasures and riches beyond measure.  A true inheritance. Discovering their history - while wearing Grandma's pearls. Snapshot Grandpa took, we assume, during a WWII USO tour. Ah...Bing. It turned out to be a souvenir edition, but still fascinating. We don't know which family member this is...but what a great photo! In a prior life I did live, and teach, in L...
Post a Comment
Read more

Happy Week- being home and loving photography

Roamin Meets the GPS- Stories from the Road Lisa, my favorite Curious Girl , created a wonderful idea for a week of "happy" posts. Share those things which make you happy, bring joy to your life, and generally fill you with happy thoughts (I do love the movie Hook , with Robin Williams). We are just returned from our fabulous 23-day, 5600 mile, 10 state, 4 time-zone adventure, and I am filled with happy thoughts today. I am also aware of the piles of laundry, the dirty car, the grocery shopping, and the weary body. Those are not the things I'll share today! Today it's about the joy of road-tripping. The miracle that we live in such a country that everywhere you go you see something to celebrate. I love driving down the road and seeing something new, or different, or unexpected. We drove for a very long time across the upper mid-west, while following signs for "Wall Drugs." Apparently this is a historic stop, originally a place for those who crossed the coun...
11 comments
Read more

Celebrating 100 Posts - A Challenge

Yes, we are closing in on our 100th post . Truly amazing. Thank you for reading and participating, helping keep the ideas, words and photos flowing. In honor of this momentous occasion, let's have a party. A party where "100" is featured. Do not become concerned if an idea doesn't pop into your head right away. You have one week to come up with something which includes 100 . Think party, celebration and fun. Think creatively. Think challenge. Photography is about expressing yourself, and challenging yourself. Here's a real stretcher! Celebrate with us by posting a photo (or series) which depicts the number 100 in some way. Let me know if you're going to participate and I'll create a way for everyone to link to each other's pages - chuckling, laughing, crying and surprising. You'll be amazed what you see when you start looking. Still at a loss? Here is a non-exhaustive look at the number 100: 100 years ago (something nostalgic- there's wigg...
15 comments
Read more