articles/Garden/garden-page3

Essentials for successful garden wildlife macro photography - part 3 of 1 2 3

by Michelle Whitmore Published 01/12/2012

3. Grow some ivy if you have a patch at the bottom of the garden. Not only will it provide a habitat for insects and nesting accommodation for birds it also offers a supply of nectar in the autumn followed by berries in the winter months, ideal for photographing birds looking for food on a cold frosty day.

4. Create some habitats. Bird-boxes and insects houses are good if you have the space and provide some great opportunities for photography but if you haven't got the space there are plenty of other things you can do. Long grass provides shelter for a number of ladybirds, and log piles and fallen leaves provide a welcome sanctuary and food for wood-lice, ear-wigs, spring-tails and other detritivores which in turn encourages the garden friendly hedgehog to stay. A pile of stones or bricks under a hedge or against a wall will also provide a good refuge for a variety of species including ladybirds and ground beetles. Each of these habitats can be recreated within the studio environment if you don't want to get down and dirty with the bugs.

5. Build a pond. It doesn't have to be big; not only will it provide a habitat for a large number of water species it will also become a regular waterhole for many others. Sitting beside a pond watching a damselfly emerge is a very satisfying experience and well worth the wait. Once it has fully emerged the damselfly will sit for around for about an hour as its wings dry out and body hardens, providing lots of time for photographs as it changes from a clear, see-through body of the emerging damselfly nymph to its final vibrant colour.

6. Be a little tolerant of the not so nice bugs. None of us is too keen on slugs, snails, aphids, ants and wasps in our gardens but they are there for a reason and form an essential part of the garden ecosystem. Why not make the most of them to expand your photography skills and practise different techniques. Ants in particular are fascinating social insects that can be encouraged to do pretty much anything with a trail of sugar. The wasp is pretty cool close up and the slowness of snails makes them easy to move about and manipulate without harming them. Besides if you eliminate the 'ugly' part of the food chain the prettier predators won't return!

It's worth remembering that every garden is important, even the tiniest of patches, because they join up and form a patchwork of green spaces and it's these areas that all wildlife home in on.

When shooting in the garden I use a Canon 50D, Canon EF100mm Macro lens, Canon extension tubes, a Sigma EM-140 ringflash, Manfrotto tripod with a Manfrotto 324RC2 Joy stick head for greater control and a remote shutter release. Wimberley clamps are also extremely handy to have; they are ideal to hold stems still if slightly windy, hold back branches that may be cluttering the background that I don't really want to remove permanently or for holding reflectors when both hands are in use.

I am often asked what you need to be a good wildlife photographer and my answer is always the same "PATIENCE - and lots of it". Never chase around after an insect as you'll scare it permanently or maybe inadvertently hurt it. It is far better to select your position in the garden and be prepared to just sit and wait, take a bottle of water and a snack if you have to and also a camping stool or a comfy cushion because sometimes you can be there a while...just waiting and watching.

• Essentials for successful garden wildlife macro photography page 1
  
• Essentials for successful garden wildlife macro photography page 2
  
• Essentials for successful garden wildlife macro photography page 3
  

There are 37 days to get ready for The Societies of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Wednesday 17th January 2024