I walk my two dogs most every day. We usually get an early start—just a little before or little after dawn—and kill about an hour while we wander about. At least once a week I like to bring a camera along with me just in case I happen across any interesting urban wildlife along the way.
Most of the time it’s the route and weather conditions that have the most influence on that decision. If the skies are clear and the sun is shining, together with a walk that takes us by the neighborhood creek or through a wooded park, then in all likelihood the camera will be coming along with us.
On outings like these I typically carry my trusty Canon SX70 HS PowerShot, a nice little bridge camera that can provide 1365mm lens equivalence under the right conditions. That’s pretty incredible super-telephoto in such a small package. Just the ticket for impromptu wildlife photography!
The SX70 is a capable little camera, but sometimes things work out, and other times they do not… a lot depends on whether the pups give me a break when I stop for pictures. If they insist on continuing on, or begin engaging in horseplay, or start sniffing something just out of leash range, or if they NOTICE the critter I’m trying to photograph, things can get ugly. Of course the subject also has to cooperate, and with this camera good light and relative proximity are absolutely required. But every once in a while I’m able to record something of note. Below are a few samples from my efforts of this past spring. Twenty-six different species of urban wildlife!
He always managed to stay behind a branch or leaves
hunting at this same spot almost every day
