The Seven Day Nature Photography Challenge

SEVEN PICTURES IN SEVEN DAYS | Darrin Henry

A seven-day nature photo challenge, just for fun, has popped up on Facebook recently with photographers nominating each other to try it. It’s labelled, #ChallengeOnNaturePhotography. After a little hesitation when I was nominated – nature photography is not my strong-point (no patience) – I decided to give it a go.

Last month we began our very first Project 365 photo a day challenge which runs every day of the year. Click Here to see our monthly progress.

Clicking through the hard drives for this one-week challenge, it turned out I had over the years managed to capture some not-too-bad nature pictures. These are quite tame alongside National Geographic standard, but even so, some tiddlers I’m quite proud of.

The idea was/is to post one nature picture every day while at the same time nominating another person. Here are the seven pictures I used to complete my nature photography challenge.

Nature Photography Challenge

‪ChallengeOnNaturePhotography Day 1 – Rain drops on a spider’s web.

This was taken last month, on 2 January, and was also used as part of our Project 366 photography challenge which sees us taking one new picture every day for the whole year.

‪#ChallengeOnNaturePhotography Day 2 – Red-billed tropic bird.

Red-billed tropic bird – They are often seen circling lazily over Jacob’s Ladder St Helena and are known locally as ‘trophy birds.’ I got lucky with this shot when Sharon and I happened to be walking near a nest and suddenly found ourselves in the right place at the right time.

Nature Photography Challenge, Day 3 – Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia).

This is an older shot from my St Helena photos archives, taken 10 years ago in 2006 – This is the Kniphofia Uvaria Flamenco or Red Hot Poker plant growing in Spring Knoll on St Helena. It is also known as a Torch Lily. The bee flew into the shot without warning, as they do, but it turned out to be great timing, as we can see.

‪#ChallengeOnNaturePhotography Day 4 – Atlantic Sea Nettle.

As this was a nature photo challenge, not wildlife, I took a little liberty choosing this one! Taken during our visit to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, USA, this picture of an Atlantic Sea Nettle is one of my favourites from that superb day. These little creatures are so futuristic in their look and mesmerising to watch the way they move.

‪ChallengeOnNaturePhotography Day 5 – Eastern Box Turtle.

We almost stepped on this little Eastern Box Turtle while hiking the Cheaha Creek, Talladega Forest, Alabama, last year. They are small compared to the turtles we are used to; the most these might grow up to is 8 inches long. They also live on land, not in the water.

‪#ChallengeOnNaturePhotography Day 6 – Rhea bird.

The Rhea are flightless birds and native to South America, although I photographed this one in England last year on a farm. The bird looks a bit like an ostrich.

‪ChallengeOnNaturePhotography Day 7 – The St Helena Wirebird.

Even with all the conservation efforts by the St Helena National Trust it is still a huge challenge for the St Helena Wirebird when it comes to raising new chicks. Predators are ever present. This one was photographed a year ago at Horse Point on one of the St Helena Island tours run by the St Helena National Trust. The Wirebird is standing over an egg and a newly hatched chick. Sadly, the chick didn’t survive.

That’s it, the 7-day challenge complete. Don’t forget to have a look at our Project 366, the photo a day challenge that lasts the whole year. We are currently (at the time of this post) up to Day 53.