BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE beholder is a fitting phrase for wildlife photography. For some photographers, it's all about capturing elephants and lions in the Serengeti, while others seek rare and obscure frogs deep in the Amazon, or polar bears and penguins at the frozen ends of the Earth.
But many wildlife photographers find plenty to point their lenses at without ever getting on a flight. The UK is incredibly rich in wildlife, with red squirrels, deer, Arctic hares, puffins and foxes among our most popular and commonly photographed species. The British weather also helps to produce evocative photos, particularly in winter - think Arctic hares curled into balls, bracing themselves against blizzards, or foxes' colourful orange coats against backgrounds of brilliant-white snow.
The UK isn't a country where charismatic megafauna simply falls into your lap. But, whether you're wandering through a national park or waiting to see what happens in your garden, we have an array of fascinating and characterful species that have great photographic potential. It could be a garden spider in its web, with the light catching the morning dew, or a blue tit buzzing to and from your garden feeder. Deer grazing the grassy stretches of parks can make elegant, charismatic shots, particularly in autumn, while relatively sedentary species, such as ducks and swans on ponds and rivers, open up all sorts of creative possibilities. It all boils down to simply getting out there and acquainting yourself with your local patch.
THREE TOP TIPS
Bu hikaye BBC Wildlife dergisinin Spring 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye BBC Wildlife dergisinin Spring 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Flightless birds
Our pick of 10 curious birds that have lost the ability to fly
ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE Shoebill
THIS PREHISTORIC-LOOKING BIRD IS affectionately known by some as 'king of the marshes' as it is huge (up to 1.5m tall with a 2.4m wingspan) and resides in the freshwater marshes and swamps of East Africa.
Slime: protector, lubricant and glue
GOO, GUNGE, GUNK... WHILE THERE are many names for the stuff that makes things slippery or sticky, slime isn't a single material but a label for a variety of substances with similar physical properties. Those qualities are desirable to many living things, which is why slime is made by such a wide range of organisms.
How do parrots learn to swear?
THERE ARE FEW THINGS AS GLORIOUSLY entertaining as the effing and blinding of a potty-mouthed parrot.
Why are walruses so chubby?
AS A GENERAL RULE, TERRESTRIAL mammals are furry, while aquatic ones are fat. It doesn't work across the board: sea otters rarely leave the water but have the densest fur of any mammal.
What is the lotus effect?
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF WATCHING the clock on the wall of a dentist's waiting room, you can always pass a bit of time with a rummage through the bowl of fragrant botanical wonders next to the leaflets about expensive cosmetic work.
Are there any plants in Antarctica?
CONTINENTS DON'T COME ANY MORE inhospitable than Antarctica, where life must contend with the longest, darkest, coldest winters and a year-round blanket of snow and ice.
LANDLORD OF THE WILD
The humble aardvark is seldom praised for its work digging out homes for other animals
CRACK DOWN
As the new Amazon drama Poacher hits our screens, we take a look at the fight to end ivory poaching in India
Wild words
Spending time observing and writing about the natural world can be transformational