Don’t have the time or money to travel to Kenya, Tanzania, India, Antarctica, or some other exotic locale to obtain outstanding wildlife photos? No worries… backyard wildlife photography offers an ideal blend of accessibility and challenge, and the presentation will walk viewers through the fundamentals that make it successful. We’ll start with practical techniques for identifying local species and creating habitat features that bring birds and mammals within photographic range. From there, we’ll discuss dependable camera settings for fast-moving wildlife, strategies for working with common backyard birds—woodpeckers, bluebirds, and hummingbirds—and approaches for managing light, backgrounds, and behavior.
We’ll also introduce sensor-based triggers and remote flashes for capturing elusive nocturnal animals. Whether you’re looking to improve technical sharpness, diversify your portfolio, or simply enjoy wildlife more deeply, the hope is that you’ll come away with tools you can apply immediately in your own yard.
Jacqui Burke is a small animal veterinarian when she is not busy photographing. She has loved animals all her life and values the rich natural history of wild animals. She began to travel to see animals in the wild 12-13 years ago and soon became interested in photography when she saw the photos that others were getting. Initially her style was more documentary, but more recently she has developed a more artistic style to wildlife photography. Nearing retirement, Jacqui anticipates photographing close to home more often. Jacqui’s photos have been awarded, published, or used in calendars or cards by The National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, North American Nature Photography Association, Nature’s Best, Wild Sojourns, Birdo Bird Photographer of the Year, Wyoming Wildlife Magazine, the Galapagos Conservation Trust, and the Philadelphia Flower Show, among many others. Her photos have also appeared in a professionally published book, Jaguars of the Northern Pantanal. In spite of these honors, Jacqui knows she has much more to learn and is looking forward to the time ahead!