There is a measure of ambiguity to such a theme. I used to have moose in my backyard on a regular basis, for instance. While I understand that even the charismatic megafauna we all love to photograph can be found in someone’s backyard out there at some point, we are going to focus in on the smaller majority here.

The idea behind this photography contest is to encourage participants to begin looking at and recognizing the diversity and beauty in the menagerie of species all around them that are so regularly overlooked or unseen by wildlife photographers and society at large.

Although you will need to use your discretion here as to what exactly this means to you, here are some examples of what we are and what we are not looking for.

Yes:

• Monarch butterflies
• Tussock moths
• Snakes
• Chipmunks
• Grasshoppers

No:

• Elk
• Foxes
• Coyotes
• Great blue herons
• Songbirds

Of course, neither of these are exhaustive lists. They are just here to guide you. Common subjects that most wildlife photographers create images of, such as deer and egrets, are not what we are looking for here. However, those subjects that are more likely to be photographed with a macro lens than a telephoto are.