What's In Your Backyard: Nature Photography Close To Home

Text and photos by Heather Cline 

House Sparrow with insect

If you are interested in nature photography, you probably have a list of dream locations you want to (or maybe already have) visited.  I'm no different and enjoy being exposed to new and different environments and wildlife, but there is value in exploring nature that is close to home. 

Personally, I don't live on a massive piece of property or on the edge of a national park, but I can still find hidden treasures when I invest a little time exploring nature locations near home. 

This post looks at nature opportunities within 1 hour of where I live, and I hope it inspires you to find the gems near your home as well. 

Within 5 minutes

This is a small park and preserve about 5 minutes from where I live, making it an ideal location to visit on a recurring basis. Some days, I go out and don't get anything at all and other days, I hit the jackpot. The value is that I have become familiar with the conditions and wildlife in this park. I have a better understanding of their habits and behavior and that only improves my chances of getting better images. 

Aside from photography, its crucial for my mental health to surround myself with nature on a regular basis. Just ask my co-workers. :)

Black Tail Doe on park trail

Within 15 minutes 

We live near a river, not so close that we have a view or anything, but I can get to it relatively quickly by car. I like to say, 'water is life' because animals gravitate to it for their survival, making it a reliable place to find wildlife.

Water of any sort is also great for reflections. In winter, steam often rises from ponds, lakes, and rivers, adding a bit of atmosphere. So - it provides a great backdrop for wildlife or a landscape subject at sunrise and sunset. 

Double crested cormorant sunning his wings

Within 30 minutes 

Every season brings new and different subjects to photograph and one of my favorites is wildflower season. Within 30 minutes of home, I can find wildflowers to shoot each spring. None of these locations contain grand vistas or the hillsides of poppies you may have seen on Instagram but there is value in working an anonymous scene to find a unique composition that thousands of others aren't snapping alongside you. This is why I appreciate nearby parks and trails where I can take time to explore the flowers and potentially unique compositions. 

California poppy

Within 1 hour

I believe one of the most accessible types of wildlife are birds. They are also some of the most challenging subjects to capture because they are small, fast, and move in and out of different lighting situations. For these reasons, I place a high value on bird photography. Even if you aren't really keen on birds, you will learn a ton and may come to appreciate how truly wonderful they are. 

I live within an hour of many locations in which birds can be found, but during certain times of the year, we are graced with the presence of Sandhill Cranes, which in my mind is the celebrity of birds. 

If you check your area, you will probably find preserves, wildlife refuges, or wildlife areas where birds can be viewed year-round, and you may find a species that has you acting like paparazzi, tracking it's every move until you land the shot!

Sandhill cranes in flight

I hope this post has inspired you to take look in your own backyard for the hidden gems that make photography close to home worthwhile.