Wildlife on Your Doorstep — WildArt Photographer of the Year

Wildlife on Your Doorstep

By

Rob Read

This month’s WildArt POTY category BACKYARD is a product of the Covid-enforced lockdowns which most of us across the world have endured at various times over the last 18 months or so. While so many of us have not had the freedom to travel which in the past we have all taken for granted, there is always a positive to be gained from even the direst of circumstances.

*Above: This image was taken in Rob’s back garden, a true BACKYARD image! ©Rob Read.*

A common theme of the last few months has been the reconnection with the wildlife which is found on our own respective doorsteps. It seems that many of you are like me, we need that time with nature and with our cameras, especially during stressful times in our lives. Lockdown has forced us to turn to those things close to home. Rather ironically, I have found myself enjoying my photography more than I have done in ages, and for me at least, I think I have produced some of my best work over the last few months.

Talking to the WildArt judges, it seems that I’m not alone as many of them appear to have really risen to the situation too. What also struck me was the variety of species and habitats at their collective disposal. This shaped the thought behind this month’s competition theme as we wondered how many of you have found inspiration from what’s on your own doorstep; after all, what one person considers common and every day, someone else will be totally mesmerised by.

As you will know, the judge in charge of BACKYARD is Rebecca Nason. Rebecca lives on the Shetland Islands overlooking Lerwick harbour, a watery backyard full of photographic potential as you will see from a couple of her images shown here.

*Above: Rebecca Nason’s Backyard includes Lerwick harbour on Shetland where images like this are possible. ©Rebecca Nason.*

Contrast that with Andy Rouse who found himself photographing damselflies on a local stream and took some incredible shots such as this example. Little Owls and Hares also featured strongly. Andy was so energised by rediscovering his local wildlife, he wrote a book about it!

*Above: Andy Rouse found inspiration in his Backyard with damselflies. ©Andy Rouse*

*Above: Victoria Hillman has been photographing plenty of things in her garden, including this Bee Orchid. ©Victoria Hillman*

Victoria Hillman found plenty of subjects to photograph in her back garden, everything from frogs to a Bee Orchid, the latter receiving quite a following on social media as she photographed its flowering progress.

Personally, not only have I had fun photographing things in my own garden, but I am extremely fortunate to have an area of woodland within 100 yards of my back gate. There are so many inspiring subjects to find, I could spend a whole year in there and not get bored. Five minutes in the car sees me with a choice of three lakes, all fed by rich chalk streams. They have a wealth of wildlife from dragonflies and other invertebrates to otters and a variety of waterbirds.

Knowing your local areas well and the wildlife they contain, often leads to a more artistic photographic approach being adopted. After all, there is little point repeating images you have taken before. And so it was with me as I took inspiration from photographers I admire and experimented with my approach to familiar subjects.

I hope that this small selection of images helps inspire your own photography and to have a go at this month’s competition category BACKYARD. There are still a few days left to enter, so have a trawl through your hard drives; or better still, get out there today, look at the wealth of subjects on your own doorstep and be inspired to experiment with your photography.

Winning competitions is a buzz for sure, but of course only a handful of images will make the cut. Photography is subjective and rejection should not be viewed as negative. If involvement with WildArt POTY helps you experiment and to really enjoy your photography, then everyone wins.

Rob Read. August 2021.