Looking for Wildlife

[Dr_Jimmy]

Hi there,

I have just been out for yet another foray into the Local Wildlife Habitat, in search of ideal Macro Subjects.

I went Armed with a Nikon D70s, 105mm Sigma Macro Lens, Tripods, Remote Release, Macro Focusing Rail, Binoculars & Off Camera Flash.

And Saw Fungi, Long since dead, a Couple of Doves, Thousands of Gnats and other Flys, One Butterfly & 6 Swallows (So Spring has Arrived)

This was me searching for around 2 hours and covering a wide area that incorporates, Boggy Area's, Established Hawthorn Trees, Grass & Shrub Area's & Some Wood Land Environments, So I would have thought I would have come across something to photograph.

I was the Only Person For Miles, and still I could not see anything, I would have thought there found be more nature about than that, I saw Roe Deer Tracks that were fairly fresh, but no deer.

So is it me, have I not learned to see Nature?

I tried to Walk carefully, tread carefully and still nothing.

So OK what was I doing wrong, what techniques do I need to learn to see more Nature?

Is it perhaps a little bit too early in the season?

Any assistance on this would be much appreciated, as this is the fourth frustrating foray I have had and so far I have been stung, eaten alive and still found nothing to photograph.

What am I doing wrong.....

[Kerry]

I think that is the nature of photography: sometimes there is masses to photograph - usually when you haven't got your camera with you - and sometimes there is nothing. I can go on a two mile walk and see not a thing one day and then the next day there will be something on nearly every plant that I pass. Time and plenty of patience is needed. And also don't expect to get that many good shots from all the ones that you take: wildlife is awkward at the best of times and just doesn't stay still. Even good photographers get very few keepers from macro photography. Also try looking near to home in your garden. I went on a two mile walk and didn't photograph a single thing and then when I came home and went to tie a gate back with a piece of rope, I found this on the rope:

[GuyF]

Something that you could try is finding a good spot and then just sit down and wait. Often after a few minutes you will start to notice things moving around, and birds and insects may start to appear. If you waited long enough a deer might arrive.
I hope you have some luck soon,
Guy

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Dr_Jimmy

Hi there,

So is it me, have I not learned to see Nature?


Any assistance on this would be much appreciated, as this is the fourth frustrating foray I have had and so far I have been stung, eaten alive and still found nothing to photograph.

What am I doing wrong.....

Well, if you are not seeng Nature, Nature is clearly seeing (and tastng) you!

Why not photograph the biters and stingers?

But GuyF's advice to sit and wait is very good - you may be surprised at what comes close.

good luck

henrya

[Dr_Jimmy]

The Stinging I was referring to was due to a very large patch of nettles I just happened to find and could not really back track, so I had to go forward.

As to the Gnats and any thing else that was bitting me... If they were not moving so fast and not covering me from head to toe at the time then perhaps I might have stood a chance.

I think what it primarily boils down to is "Nature Hates ME..."

Is there any way I can coax nature to "Love Me..."

Perhaps I need to choose an Ideal Spot and wait to see what's about, perhaps leave the camera at home and learn the area better than I thought I did.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Dr_Jimmy

Hi there,

I have just been out for yet another foray into the Local Wildlife Habitat, in search of ideal Macro Subjects.

I went Armed with a Nikon D70s, 105mm Sigma Macro Lens, Tripods, Remote Release, Macro Focusing Rail, Binoculars & Off Camera Flash.

Hi there Dr Jimmy

Can I take it that you're new to this Natural History lark? I think you're talking about basic Fieldcraft - a skill that takes a little while to acquire. I could write an essay about fieldcraft, and so could a lot of others on this forum, but nothing beats getting out there and learning it yourself.

I'll offer one piece of advice, though. If walking around isn't working for you ( and frankly, if you're carrying that lot around with you, I'm not surprised it's not working ) then use your forays to scout a good place to sit, and then just sit and wait. Remember that a photograph is just an observation caught on camera, so to be a good photographer, you must learn to be a good observer first. Be patient, it will come.

HTH
Tursiops2

[Deer Stalker]

What about the weather?

Its flippin' windy down here, so not much is showing at the mo, insect wise.

Plus the deer lay up when its like this.

Have you tried taking pics of flowers/mosses/lichens?

[glsammy]

Hi Dr Jimmy.

The advice to sit and wait is spot on. Recently due to mobility problems I've been forced into doing this more and more, the more I wait, the more I see. It's only common sense when you think about it.

[pressld2]

Hi Dr Jimmy,

As Tursiops2 says, it will come. I've only recently started to make serious attempts at macro wildlife photography but I'm already seeing much more than I was even a month or two ago, including things that I don't think I've ever seen before. I'm sure they were always there but I didn't notice.

I've just spent half an hour at a philadelphus bush in my garden and saw 2 species of spider and four species of fly, plus one other insect that I couldn't even place in a family. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of that one as the ony time it landed was on the barrel of my lens!

This was better than normal for me. Most of the time I only spot things - birds, mammals or insects - immediately after they've spotted me and taken flight.

Dave P.

P.s. your moniker - anything to do with The Who (Quadrophenia)?

[Kev Lewis]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Hi Dr Jimmy.

The advice to sit and wait is spot on. Recently due to mobility problems I've been forced into doing this more and more, the more I wait, the more I see. It's only common sense when you think about it.

Personally I think being patient is one of the most important quality for getting good images. You'll rarely see wildlife before they see you if you just wander around.