Learning Wildlife Photography Through Practice and Patience

The balcony wasn’t the only location on our property in Nehalem where I was able to take photos of wildlife. Down the hill from the house was a place we called “Level C.” You could access it by a beaten trail which led to an opening with lots of overgrown shrubs and birch trees. We found an old beaver den with its teeth marks left on the log. Additionally, there were lots of deer tracks coming and going. It was accompanied by a little creek which gave a peaceful sound as I’d sit and wait with my camera. 

From time to time, I’d witness larger creatures such as heron and the deer I spoke of, but unfortunately the quality of those photos proved to be too blurry -  I may have had a good idea how to begin, but I had a lot to learn (and am still learning to this day). As it is said with anything we pursue, we must “practice, practice, practice.” In time I was blessed with a few shots bringing a smile to my face; practice and patience finally paid off. 

Capturing a Dark-Eyed Junco in an Unexpected Moment

Sometimes opportunities come out of nowhere and you need to be ready. It helps to have a listening ear and a sharp eye. On one of the days I was hiking down to “level C”, I noticed a Dark Eyed Junko just hanging out on a branch. Stopping and slowly raising my camera, I managed to snap a few shots of this little guy, rewarding me with an interesting expression on his face. He seemed to have a look of intrigue of whatever he was looking at. 

Dark Eyed Junko looking on with intrigue

While waiting for a subject to come close enough, or into your viewfinder, it's also good to take a look around and observe your surroundings. While practicing this principle, I noticed a little honey bee making efforts to support his hive. As he was collecting pollen, it was another opportunity to appreciate wildlife even on a macro scale. Funny enough, I've always been nervous around bees, but this time, quite the opposite. 

Honey Bee gathering pollen

Getting Eye Level for More Intimate Bird Photography

Every once in a while you need to get on your stomach. When you do this you’ll find a whole other world just waiting for your lens. Getting down at eye level really opens up all kinds of possibilities, plus it makes your photos intimate and personal. It's not just taking a picture of the subject, but more like taking a portrait of your subject, a portrait which then tells a story. Just through the dried grass there was a beautiful Sparrow. As soon as he popped his head up it granted me the opportunity to capture a few shots of him. 

Sparrow amidst dry grass

Personality and Behavior in Stellar Jay Photography

I spent many months hiking down to “Level C” enjoying the silence and the soft breezes nature provides. After returning from a fishing trip to Alaska with my father in 2024, I was excited to get back down there. This time I brought with me a large bag of bird seed and took some suet as well. I sprinkled seed on a few logs and pressed the suet into crevices of a few trees. Not much time passed while I patiently waited beneath the tall green grass for cover when a bombardment of Stellar Jays came swooping down to feed. 

Stellar Jay opening his beak

Watching these Jays, it was comical to see them squabble over their newly discovered feast. They would fly in from high up branches of the tall pines and land on another branch slightly closer. Once they felt the coast was clear then they would fly the rest of the way to the log where I had laid their food. Once they were pecking at the seeds, they displayed lots of character. This allowed me to take some shots filled with lots of personality. 

Stellar Jay opening his wings

The reality of what birds think and their behavior is very different from our perception. In the mind of a stellar jay, they may be thinking “that’s food to sustain life and the life for my chicks.” Whereas when we see a moment frozen in time, the personality and behavior we see tells a different narrative. The expression on the face of the stellar jay looks like he’s saying “I’m ready for my photo shoot.” 

Stellar Jay displaying some personality

The quiet moments and lively encounters at Level C continue to shape my journey in wildlife photography. Many of these images are now available as wildlife photography prints for purchase, perfect for bringing a sense of nature, patience, and story into your home. Explore the collection, support independent wildlife photography, and let these portraits from Level C remind you to slow down, observe, and appreciate the wild world around us.