Being Mother’s day here in North America and many other regions around the World, I see no better theme than MOTHER NATURE for our Week 19 Challenge. I figured we’d make it an open theme. This means letting every 2014 PhotoChallenge participant express their photographic interpretation of what Mother Nature means to them and the impact it carries in their lives.
The first thing that may come to mind are flowers for Mother’s Day! Although many of the May flowers offered for mother’s day aren’t wild flowers, try and focus on something from Mother Nature. Like this alpine flower, Rosaceae (Potentilla visianii), a gift from nature found in the eastern Alps.
It’s not just the pretty flowers that are growing. In more humid wooded areas mushrooms are sporing. Fungus of all kinds can make for interesting photo subjects. Sometimes they go unseen like this tiny mushroom above. Barely measuring a quarter inch in height, it was growing almost unseen among the moss on a fallen tree.
This water strider (Gerridae) is a good example of some of the firsts insects we can find in ponds, lakes and wetlands. They don’t stay still for very long, making them a true challenge to photograph!
This time of year is also the mating season for many species. Keep your eyes open as insects, amphibians, mammals and birds, like these Cooper’s Hawks, are likely to be mating.
Be aware at all times and have your camera ready. Mother Nature can without any warning present you with the best photo opportunities. As beautiful as nature may be, it sometimes can present itself in cruel and unusual ways.
Predator and prey scenarios come in all shapes and sizes. They are as likely to occur in or on water, land or the sky above you. The good news is this squirrel made it through without a scratch, just a few rattled nerves…
Remember to respect nature and not to disturb any animals or destroy their habitat in any way during your quest for the perfect image. Please be extremely considerate of nesting birds and their nests keeping a good distance away, not to overly stress the bird. The birds choose their nesting area carefully. Breaking and removing branches to take a better picture will only render the nest more vulnerable to predators.
Also take time to familiarize yourself with local wildlife and plants. Some animals can present a danger, especially if protecting their young. Spiders and Snakes, especially hard to see baby snakes can present a great danger due to their venom. It’s always better to keep a safe distance from any animal no matter how sweet and innocent it may seem. Animals should not be fed. Feeding animals often encourages them to approach humans, increasing the risk of injury from individuals who may appreciate them less than you might. Most animals in rescue centers get there due to an encounter with humans.
Get acquainted with plants like Poisson Oak and Poisson Ivy or any other dangerous plants in your area. Some plants not only represent a risk of skin irritation but can also kill you if touched or ingested. Learn to identify the dangerous plants in your area.
The skies the limit for this week’s challenge. Get out there and show us what Mother Nature has to offer you!
As this is Nature and wildlife, try to keep human objects such as houses, bridges and fences out of your images as much as possible. There’s often a way to compose an image to give the illusion of complete nature without using Photoshop.
To fully take advantage of the sunlight, early mornings and late afternoons will provide a lower angle and softer light to work with.
The rules are pretty simple:
- Post one original (Your Image) shot each week per theme posted on this blog to Google+, Facebook, or Flickr (or all three). Tag the photo #photochallenge.org. or #photochallenge2014.
- The shot should be a new shot you took for the current weekly theme, not something from your back catalog or someone else’s image.
- Don’t leave home without your camera. Participating in the 2014 Photo Challenge is fun and easy.