BACKYARD BEASTS!
Photography week|May 13, 2021
Discover how to photograph amazing wildlife no matter where you live, as pro Tom Mason shares his comprehensive tips and tricks
BACKYARD BEASTS!

If there’s a single piece of advice I’d give to wildlife photographers – be it those starting out, developing their craft, or just looking for a new challenge – it would be to embark on your very own local wildlife photography project.

It doesn’t matter if it’s blue tits in the garden, frogs in the pond or the local street fox – find something close to home that you can work on and develop photographically. Over the past few years I’ve had the luxury of working on a variety of international assignments, from watching elephants on Botswana’s Okavango Delta to camera trapping for jaguars in the Amazon. They certainly offered some amazing opportunities for wildlife photography, but when it comes to developing my work, style and shooting techniques, that’s always been a job for home.

Be it the garden, a local nature reserve or the graveyard at the end of the road, the abundance of wildlife photography opportunities you can find in your neighbourhood is amazing. Granted, the subjects might not be the most exotic, but you’ll be surprised by the wildlife we’re lucky to have on our doorstep. The moment you really start to explore, it’s incredible how much potential is right outside your window and how, with a little thought, experimentation and long-term commitment, you’ll be able to make some of your best wildlife photography ever, a stone’s throw from your home!

THE PROJECT MINDSET

This story is from the May 13, 2021 edition of Photography week.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 13, 2021 edition of Photography week.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKView All
VILTROX AF 27MM F1.2 PRO
Photography week

VILTROX AF 27MM F1.2 PRO

A 'pro' lens with a consumer price tag

time-read
5 mins  |
March 28, 2024
HOW TO...MASTER SHADOWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Photography week

HOW TO...MASTER SHADOWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

This powerful tool has more to it than meets the eye, and it's ideal for landscapes

time-read
1 min  |
March 28, 2024
PATCHWORK PORTRAITS
Photography week

PATCHWORK PORTRAITS

Mike Harris uses the Brenizer method to shoot and edit a bokeh panorama with a super-shallow depth of field

time-read
4 mins  |
March 28, 2024
PHOTO CONTEST CELEBRATES BRITAIN'S NATURAL WONDERS
Photography week

PHOTO CONTEST CELEBRATES BRITAIN'S NATURAL WONDERS

British Wildlife Photography Awards feature amazing images of fauna and flora

time-read
1 min  |
March 28, 2024
COMPLETE GUIDE TO LANDSCAPE POST-PROCESSING
Photography week

COMPLETE GUIDE TO LANDSCAPE POST-PROCESSING

Take your best scenic images further using natural editing techniques

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 28, 2024
INSTAX MINI 99 LETS YOU TAKE CONTROL AND GET CREATIVE
Photography week

INSTAX MINI 99 LETS YOU TAKE CONTROL AND GET CREATIVE

Fujifilm's most advanced Instax yet gets colour effects and new focus modes

time-read
1 min  |
March 28, 2024
LUMIX S 100MM F/2.8 MACRO
Photography week

LUMIX S 100MM F/2.8 MACRO

It ticks many boxes, but it's not a total success

time-read
4 mins  |
March 21, 2024
HOW TO...GET THE LONG-EXPOSURE LOOK
Photography week

HOW TO...GET THE LONG-EXPOSURE LOOK

James Paterson shows you how to use the Stack feature in Affinity Photo to combine a set of photos and blur choppy waters

time-read
1 min  |
March 21, 2024
FLASH FUNGI
Photography week

FLASH FUNGI

Master macro with off-camera flash to capture mushroom photos with James Paterson

time-read
5 mins  |
March 21, 2024
PORTRAITS AND PREDATORS: WPA ANNOUNCES OPEN WINNERS
Photography week

PORTRAITS AND PREDATORS: WPA ANNOUNCES OPEN WINNERS

Prestigious contest reveals its latest round of amazing winning images

time-read
1 min  |
March 21, 2024