Artescape Photography

Nature Watch

By Steve Hedges L.M.P.A.

Hello again.  For those of you who didn't have the chance to read my first column, my name's Steve Hedges.  I am a local professional photographer.  Over the next few months I will be sharing with you my experiences of photographing the changing landscape and wildlife of Essex.

As autumn begins to take a hold, I cast my thoughts back to a fantastic morning in the early summer at the Blue House Farm nature reserve in North Fambridge.  It was one of those rare, dry summer days that seems to have been in short supply this year.

As I was sitting in the hide, camera ready, watching herons and egrets fishing, a couple of brown hares ambled into view.  I quickly and quietly leapt into action and took a great series of shots.  I watched the hares for about half an hour before spotting a fox creeping up intent on securing breakfast.  The hares were away as quick as a flash, at which point the fox stared straight at me (or should I say glared).  I think he blamed me for his poor hunting skills.   Then he trotted off.  Hide or no hide, he knew I was there.

After a good photo opportunity, it was time for me to go home to get my breakfast too.

Taking photographs of the local wildlife can be very challenging.  However, there are a number of things you can do to improve your chances.

Firstly, get up early or stay out late.  When there are fewer people about, the chance of spotting shy wildlife increases.  There is also the bonus of warm, low sunlight which is great for photography.  Secondly, do as much research on your chosen subject as possible.  What is it's favourite habitat?  what time of the day or year do you need to start looking?  Learn to recognise tracks and trails.  Knowing these things will increase your success rate.  Brown hares for example, are easier to spot in the spring when they are very active and the surrounding vegetation is not too high.

When photographing wildlife, one of the best techniques to use is seletive focus.  This is where you use a very shallow depth of field.  the main subject is in focus.  The background and foreground are out of focus (blurred).  This focuses attention on the main subject and produces a great image.

Although, over the next few weeks, the weather will start to deteriorate, there is plenty to look forward to.  From those fantastic autumn colours to the thousands of ducks, geese and wading birds that will be arriving on our shores and estuaries.  With luck there will also be great light to match nature's unfolding spectacle.  Also with luck, when people admire your great photographs, they will at least know what you have photographed; unlike my wife who, upon seeing my freshly printed shots of brown hares laid nicely out, asked me what I "wanted to do with all these pictures of rabbits....?" 

Ah well, Bye for now.  If you would like to see more of my landscape and wildlife images, please visit www.artescapephotography.com