Wildlife Photographer’s Notebook: Meet My Subject Matter
Posted in Photography, Wildlife on March 16 2015, by Patricia Gonzalez
Patricia Gonzalez is an NYBG Visitor Services Attendant and avid wildlife photographer.
This year marks the eighth year that I’ll be photographing wildlife here at the New York Botanical Garden. I first began visiting the Garden grounds in 2008. I was so impressed with all the different types of wildlife that I soon became a Member. In 2012, I signed on as a Volunteer Greeter with Visitor Services. Later that same year, I was asked to join them as staff. The rest, as they say, is history.
During all this time, I’ve never stopped shooting. I bring my camera to work every day and try to do some shooting before and after my shift. I also visit the Garden on my days off to get in some extra daylight. Naturally, I have an advantage working at the Garden as I can get in before we open to the public. This leaves entire swaths of the Garden all to myself. Through the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some amazing members of the animal kingdom. Here are a few of them.
Muskrats
It’s always fun watching these wet, whiskered furballs during their routine which consists of swimming out to the middle of the lake, diving, emerging with a mouthful of vegetation, swimming back to shore, then chomping away. What do they do next? Repeat the process, of course!
Red-tailed hawks
My favorite member of the animal kingdom to photograph. There isn’t a section of the Garden where I haven’t seen these regal hunters either flying overhead, perched in a tree, or killing something on the ground. I especially enjoy watching them when they are young and learning how to hunt, trying to figure out what is alive and what isn’t. In 2014 I spotted one of these young rascals trying to kill a bench in front of the Library Building.
Frogs
Trying to spot the bullfrogs and green frogs in the Wetlands is always a challenge. I’ll usually hear them first. Green frogs make a sound like a banjo being plucked. Bullfrogs make a short, deep hum. It never grows old seeing what I believe are rocks, stones, and twigs suddenly blinking and growing webbed feet.
Hummingbird Clearwing Moths
I have one heck of a time not only spotting, but keeping up with these wonderfully strange-looking insects. A hummingbird moth resembles a shrimp with wings. 2014 was my best year for sightings, especially in the Home Gardening Center.
I could go on forever about my four-legged, fine-feathered, and scaly friends. But for the sake of space, I’ll save these tales for a future segment of Wildlife Photographer’s Notebook.
To staff and visitors alike, I can’t emphasize it enough. Take a few minutes, perhaps when you first arrive—look up, down, all around you. There’s wildlife everywhere. Much to our benefit!
