Ever wonder what a Photographer takes photos of when they can't leave their home? Whatever they can find!
It's a weird feeling for a photographer to not pick up their camera for days or weeks at a time. You feel your skills getting rusty, your creativity draining, and your need to create something becoming more and more necessary. So you pick up your camera and capture whatever you can around you.
This is what I've been photographing during my quarantine. Since I have no children and am opting to stay home as much as possible, my photography subjects have been limited to what I can find in my own backyard...including my dogs.
Hummingbirds
Photographing hummingbirds requires two things: a zoom lens and patience.
I have two hummingbird feeders (for now) and I make my own food ever since I found out the store bought ones are often bad for the birds (if its dyed red, its likely not good). For some reason, the birds always prefer one feeder over the other. This is the one they like and the spot in the yard they frequent the most. I sit in a chair facing the feeder, with my camera ready to go and wait. And wait some more. As soon as I hear that buzzing from their wings I bring my camera to my eye and snap away, waiting for them to peek out from behind the feeder.
Now I just need a larger zoom than my 85 mm (typically used in my Headshot sessions) so I can get really up close shots of those wings in motion.
Plants in my container gardens
I have big plans for my yard, but haven't had time or money to make those plans a reality. But it's at a place now that is enjoyable, especially during this time when we're stuck at home.
Our backyard has several potted herbs, an olive tree, a dwarf lemon tree, and a few flowers (my bougainvillea isn't pictured but I'm hoping that will become a big feature in a few years' time). Hopefully by the end of this year we'll have some raised beds along a border of the yard and other for our blackberries.
The blackberries currently reside in our front courtyard and are overflowing from their containers with nowhere left for their limbs to hang. I'll need something big to fill their space when we transplant them to the backyard. I hope to transform the courtyard into a little oasis perfect for drinking a cup of coffee in the morning and watch the world go by. So far we have climbing roses, vines, and lots of cacti and succulents. One day, along with more potted plants, I hope to have a water feature and a comfy bench.
In case you're wondering, the cacti with what looks like cobwebs enveloping it, is called a Cotton Cactus (or Cotton Ball Cactus). You can find larger versions at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
For these photos, I started with my 35 mm, but decided I wanted to get even closer. I dusted off my macro lens...and then my old camera when I realized it wasn't compatible with my newer camera model...and got to work. It was strange using my old camera again and decided I need to add a new macro lens to my ever growing camera gear wish list.
Lizard in a Lemon Tree
We have a lot of little lizards running around our yards (and occasionally in our home). I'm always surprised when they stop and let me get close with my camera. They watch me with as much fascination as I have when watching them.
I took all of these photos with my 35 mm lens. It's a wide angle lens that I usually use during my family sessions. It allows me to get more in my frame and get up close to my subjects. It's a lens that's close to producing what the human eye sees. So though I cropped many of these images to zoom in on the lil lizard's face, I am not very far from him (or her...).
Dogos: A Series
Since I don't have children, I photograph my dogs a lot. A LOT. One of them is a pretty good model. Indy stays, makes subtle movements, and follows commands (usually). The other dog...not so much. Riker can't stand to be more than 1 foot away from my face at all times. Most of his photos are close ups and not by choice. There are rare occasions when I can catch him running in the yard, though.
Riker is also jealous of any attention Indy receives (he was rescued from a family who paid no attention to him, so it's understandable). Here is a series I like to call "What about Riker?"
When I want to be photographing newborn tiny feet, but can't I make do with dog paws.
I'll need to take some of Indy's paws next, if Riker will let me and not get in the way...
What is your favorite photos from this collection? What would you like to see more of between now and when I can photograph people again?
Are there any images you'd like to own? Let me know and I'll add them to my print gallery!
If you're a photographer, what have you been taking pictures of during your time at home?