Don’t feel too disappointed if travelling long distances looking for photographic subjects is not an option for you. While it is awesome to be able to check out and photograph new and different places and wildlife it is still possible, dare I say almost guaranteed that you can find interesting subjects close to home. It is thrilling to take a photograph of a common creature, fungi or flower and be able to present it from a different perspective than you might normally do even if it is a subject, you have photographed many times before. Nature produces so many variations of colour and pattern, more often than not you will notice how different the subject is compared with any others you may have seen. All you really need is a camera or phone, with a macro setting is perfect, an open mind, a keen eye and a bit of patience. Starting in your own backyard is a great option and plants and mini beasts in particular are likely to be available to you in theses settings. This is where the keen eye comes in, although this might sound boring if you open your eyes, you will be amazed. Have you ever taken the time to admire or even just notice the beauty of a leaf? One that has fallen or been ravaged by insects can be even more elegant and interesting. I’ll stop now I’m starting to sound like a tree hugging ratbag (which I am proud to be by the way) but hopefully you get the gist of what I’m trying to say. It helps if you are passionate about the natural world and I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you’re probably there so armed with that passion just allow it in and enjoy it, it’s bloody brilliant.
If like me, you are focused on a particular branch of nature that is awesome however if you allow your keen observational skills to spill over into other fields you will open yourself to an even more enthralling experience without detracting at all from the major focus. Be warned though, an hour long walk in the bush may turn into an epic ‘David Attenborough’ like documentary lasting half a day or more…. if you’re lucky. Make sure you go with likeminded people otherwise they might do what some of my old herping mates did and get so frustrated with me stopping to photograph fungi and just walk off and leave me to do my own thing. Thankfully I’m comfortable with my own company.
All of the photographs below are taken within a few kilometers of my home either on my own property or in pockets of bushland and council nature reserve and are in no particular order.
Scarlet-sided Pobblebonk
A species of Leucauge spider I believe.
Grevillea Dorothy Gordon
Snail, unsure of the species
I did find out what this was laying eggs on my vegies but I can’t remember.
Also in the vegie patch
Local bandy Bandy
Eastern Sedge frog
Great Barred frog
Stony Creek Frogs in amplexus
Giant Barred Frog
Green Tree Frog
Robust Velvet Gecko
Wallum froglet
Emerald Spotted Tree frog resting on blockwork
Common Blue-tongue
The point of this post was to highlight the fact that you don’t have to be a professional photographer with all of the expensive gear (I am far from it and my setup including the backpack cost under $800). There are lots of flaws in every shot I understand that, but I really get a lot of enjoyment from the act of finding something in nature and taking its photo. It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect and it doesn’t matter if, like me you have very little understanding of the science of photography and you just snap what you like without stressing over the settings, it’s all good really. Just have a go.
Mike.
