Over the last few weeks, I’ve been talking about how to establish habitat and meet your wildlife neighbors. But I understand that not everyone has a personal plot of green space and, even if you do, you may be unable to alter it with the addition or subtraction of landscaping. I totally get it, which is why I am offering up some variations to the past weeks’ tips to give you ideas based on your current living situation.
Find (or Create!) Local Green Spaces
You might not think that a city like Paris or Tokyo would give you many wildlife photography opportunities, but many species have adapted to take advantage of the green spaces that humans have incorporated into these looming urban jungles. Tamara Blazquez Haik covered this subject extensively in her Fall 2022 feature, “Nocturnal Urban Wildlife” (https://journalofwildlifephotography.com/fall-2022-issue/) — take a look! Finding a small playground park or green space built around a historic monument can be like finding an oasis in the desert, as these green spaces provide the necessary resources that urban wildlife require.
Some animals learn to thrive in urban situations, such as the white-cheeked starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus) shown above. This bird is a common urban species across Japan, as it has learned to cohabitate with people in cities as a defense against nocturnal predators that avoid the lights and nightlife scene.
If you find yourself in a flat without an outdoor space, consider seeing if your area has a local community garden where you can lease a plot for little to no cost. Planting pollinator plants native to your area will help your local wildlife and ecosystem best, but if those aren’t an option, consider planting herbs such as parsley, dill, and fennel that act as host plants for butterfly species like swallowtails. Other garden variety plants that double as pollinator attractants and hosts include echinacea, lavender, burdock, and roses. Many of these grow very well in containers, so if you have a small balcony or porch, you may try creating a microhabitat that not only helps our pollinators but also gives you subjects just outside your door.
In the image below, a predatory assassin bug nymph (species unknown) reflects the morning’s light as it hunts across the tops of fennel plants in a vegetable plot. These insects are beneficial to gardeners since they feed upon other insects that are considered pests to crops such as these.
When I want to get out of the house and photograph macro wildlife, one of my favorite places to go is my local botanical garden. So many communities have a botanical garden and/or arboretum, and these are frequently filled with a plethora of potential subjects — everything from insects to birds to even small mammals roam the grounds of even the most urban gardens. Although these destinations usually have an entrance fee, there are large reciprocal programs across countries where, by belonging to one as a member, you gain access to potentially hundreds of other gardens, zoos, and parks that you can visit when you travel.
About Reptiles and Amphibians
Photographing backyard wildlife is all about recognizing the beauty and value of underappreciated creatures, and all too often, we undervalue reptiles and amphibians and choose to focus our lens elsewhere. I encourage you to reconsider these neighbors in nature during your photography adventures.
Snakes are some of the most persecuted small species in suburban and urban settings. Yet, they help keep rodent and insect populations in check, which helps keep zoonotic diseases (those that can be transmissible to humans) in check as well. Less than 10 percent of the nearly 3,000 species of snakes pose any sort of major bodily harm or death to humans. If you are able to find reptiles, especially snakes, on your urban photography excursions, consider yourself lucky. Snakes feel most comfortable when they can be covered or back themselves up against something like brush or a rock or tree stump. If you see a snake in nature, move slowly with caution and respect, and try to get eye level with the subject for a more impactful image.
Take personal safety into consideration when working with species you are unfamiliar with or those that are venomous. Avoid handling your subject to reduce the stress the encounter causes to the animal, as that may prompt them to use harmful defense mechanisms, such as self-amputation of tails in the case of certain species of lizards and urination by tortoises. It can take considerable time for these animals to regenerate these defense mechanisms, meaning they will be more susceptible to predators if they use them on you. Handling amphibians also can cause them harm as they are more sensitive to thermal changes and can damage or dry out their mucous skin coating.
I captured this image of a harmless eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) one day as it basked on the edge of a trail in a small park in my hometown. These snakes are found in every county throughout Florida in the southeastern United States, and they are one of five species of garter snake found in the state.
Diversify Your Portfolio
At the end of the day, I hope this series has helped you realize that there is more to wildlife photography than just lions, bears, elk, and elephants, and that birds shouldn’t be photographed solely on the color of their feathers or size of their wings. Challenge yourself to add portraits of your closest wild neighbors and the often-overlooked species all around you. You may just be surprised at how both your portfolio and photography skills grow as your knowledge of those creatures around you grows as well.
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