Backyard Birding

One of the beauties of nature photography is that I do not always have to go somewhere else to find subjects worth photographing. Often, they show up in my own backyard. Though I love exploring other areas, the backyard should not be overlooked as a wonderful resource for interesting images, quiet observation, and steady practice. Some of the photographs in this gallery came from moments I did not plan at all. The Cooper’s Hawk, for example, landed only a few yards in front of me while I was testing camera settings. The Gambel’s Quail make repeated visits, giving me closeup opportunities that I have not yet been able to get in a more natural setting. The backyard is also a good place to work on the basics—light, focus, timing, and patience—without the pressure of feeling that every outing has to produce something special.

I think we all share a human tendency to assume we must be somewhere else to find what we are looking for. In that regard, photography has been an important teacher for me. Sometimes patience, familiarity, and the willingness to look closely at what is right in front of us can produce unexpected rewards. A bird on the fence, movement among the grapevines, or a brief visit to the tree near the feeder can become a reminder that discovery is not limited to faraway places. It can happen close to home, in ordinary light, on an ordinary day, if I am willing to pay attention.