Your own backyard
Ben Weeks, August 2010
The world is a huge and amazing place with loads of incredible things to photograph. Unfortunately, the truth is that most of us will never get to see a lot of it, so sometimes it pays to set more reasonable photographic targets. With that in mind, your own backyard is as good a place as any to start, and you don’t need to have expensive specialist equipment. You might be surprised what you find there and the photographs you get.
Animal
Whether your garden consist of acres of sprawling lawns and immaculate flowerbeds, a small stony yard where you keep your wheelie-bin, or something in-between, there will be wildlife to be found and photographed if you just look in the right places. Larger animals such as birds and hedgehogs will require a garden with a bit more space and some incentive to visit it, such as birdfeeders or suitable habitat. There are ways to encourage these creatures into your outdoor space – see our “Attracting wildlife to your garden” blog post. But smaller creatures, or as my children call them, “Mini Beasts” can be found in almost any outdoor area.
Photographed on wild flower in garden. Taken with Leica digital compact camera.
Shot on garden fence. Taken with a Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Found in our garden after heavy rain. Taken with a Nikon film SLR and standard lens.
Photographed on wild flower in garden. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Shot on conservatory pot. Taken with Canon digital SLR and macro lens.
Found on washing line. Taken with a Sony digital compact camera.
Vegetable
Most gardens have some plant-life of some kind. Whether it’s an entire flowerbed dedicated to beautiful blooms, a weed infested back yard or even a well-kept window-box, chances are you’ll have some in yours. Plant photos don’t need to always be about gorgeous petals or close-ups of flower-heads. There are plenty of other photos to be had with plants. Try looking for textures, patterns, colour variations and interesting structures – there’s a lot to be found.
Photographed in small pond in city back garden. Taken with Nikon digital SLR and standard lens. (Photographer: Lucy Rayner)
Sprayed with mister-bottle for effect. Taken with Leica digital compact camera.
Weed flower growing in lawn. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Found on lilac tree in garden. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Photographed growing up garage wall. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Photographed on front lawn. Taken with Sony digital compact camera.
Found in area next to Warehouse Express car-park. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Plant growing in area next to Warehouse Express car-park. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Mineral
Even in the highly unlikely event that your backyard is completely devoid of any animal or plant life whatsoever, you should still be able to get some interesting shots form the inanimate objects found lying around or hanging about. Again, textures, structure and patterns are the things to look for, and if you look hard enough you’re bound to find something somewhere.
Captures whilst raining. Taken with Canon digital SLR with standard lens.
Captured on a frosty morning. Taken with Nikon film SLR and standard lens.
Shot in sun on washing line. Taken with Canon digital SLR with standard lens.
Old bench in garden. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Rusty wheel of old BBQ. Taken with Canon digital SLR and standard lens.
Shot outside the front door of Warehouse Express offices. Taken with Canon digital SLR with standard lens.
Shot just after a shower of rain. Taken with Leica digital compact camera.
Go out and have a look
Hopefully we’ve proved here that no matter the size, shape, location and type of garden/backyard you have, if you just look hard enough, you can be sure to find photo opportunities right outside your back door. All you need to do is step through it.
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How right you are, for those willing to look there are a great deal of number of subjects waiting to be photographed even in a small garden. Because of advancing years and lack of mobility I have been forced to concentrate on my garden. I have a number of flower and insect photographs, this Summer has been wet and windy just south of Edinburgh but I am looking forward to my Autumn Gentians and Sedum spectabile flowering, capturing the beautiful gentian blues is not easy.
Ron MelroseA truly mind opening item, thank you very much!
Anthony BirdSome great idea’s. Thankyou.
SUE118I really enjoyed looking at all these fine shots. It’s given me some ideas and places to look for subjects. Well done
Thank you
Tony
Tony EvansMind-opening, yes. Also, “I never thought of that,” or “Why the hell didn’t I think of that?” Sometimes we need to be humbled.
Don ScottExcellent photo’s, sure gives me something to think about!
Paul CowellWould never of believed it! So much is just ‘out there’ waiting to be caught on camera.
Paul CowellMind blowing snaps…also need some comments on selective coloring of pics. It would be great if i get some tips on it.
AsimSome great ideas, especially inspiring for the use of Standard Lens.
BobIt’s good that you are showing us the way. We nearly always try to find something exotic to photograph, completely overlooking our ‘back gardens’ as it were.
David Dixon