Wildlife photography is often associated with the most iconic and charismatic animals on the planet while taking the photographer on amazing adventures all around the world. However, these trips tend to be very expensive and are not always a possibility for everybody, especially beginner photographers.
Fortunately, lions and elephants are not the only species worth photographing, and wildlife can be found all around us, even in our own backyards. Photographing urban wildlife can be just as fun and challenging as photographing bears in Yellowstone, even if you live in a heavily urbanized area.
The first step when wanting to photograph urban animals is actually doing a bit of research, starting with a quick search on Google about the area you live in and what wildlife can be found there. You can also visit your local library or college to see if there are any books, papers, or other information pertaining to the biodiversity of where you live.
It’s also a good idea to visit your local environmental authorities to get even more information. If you will be visiting any local parks or natural areas that may be under federal or state protection, they can let you know if you need a special permit for your endeavors.
Your research will help you learn about the vegetation in your town and what kind of animals it attracts, the parks and other habitats around your city, the threats these ecosystems face, the resident and migratory species in your area, and more.
If you’re solely interested in birds, for example, you can learn through research and conversations with your local authorities if it’s OK to put out a bird feeder or bath, and if so, what kind of care you need to provide to these structures in regard to hygiene to avoid spreading diseases among the visiting birds.
Now, it’s time to start visiting these areas, including your own yard to just observe. Wait and see what kind of animals visit these places during different times of the day and during different seasons. This will help you anticipate what species you can expect to see and help you prepare your gear. For example, let’s say that during the summer, the only wildlife you see in your area are birds, so you’ll find there’s no point in carrying around different types of lenses other than your long lens during that season.
You’ll also get a hang of the environment and what kind of clothing you’ll need. Sometimes urban wildlife are a bit accustomed to humans, so you don’t always need camouflage clothing and can just sit on a bench in the park while you wait. It’s also important to assess the security in the area to see if a specific park is safe enough for you to flaunt your gear without the risk of getting mugged.
One perk of shooting urban wildlife is that you can do it from home, either in your yard or from inside your house. Photographing wildlife from your window is often a great way to get wildlife images that would be hard to capture while you’re in the field. Buildings are essentially big photo blinds, so birds and small mammals often won’t even notice you or your camera, making it easier for you to photograph them perched on the tree outside your window or foraging for food in your lawn.
There are a few things to take into account when photographing animals from your window. First, the difference in temperature, which is mainly a consideration to keep in mind when it’s cold outside due to the season or time of day or night. Your home will be warm and toasty on the inside, and that temperature difference can cause a slight distortion in your image when you stick your warm camera lens out the window into a cold day. If you have a lens hood, heat may be trapped inside the hood close to the glass, so take it off for a moment to dissipate that heat before replacing it on your lens (if needed). You can also help avoid interference from heat shimmers by filling the gap in the window with towels around your camera. This will also help keep you warm from the cold outside!
The second factor is humidity, which mainly happens during the summer months. When you are shooting wildlife from your window, the outside environment may be a lot more humid than inside your home, causing the outside of your lens to fog up for a short while (this could also happen during the winter). Normally, after a few seconds, your lens should acclimate and get back to normal, but if that doesn’t happen, be sure to have a lens wipe in hand to manually wipe the fog from your lens.
Once you’ve studied up on your local wildlife and habitats, it’s time to go out there and shoot! You’ll be surprised at the many encounters you’ll have and the unique photographs you can get.