In the 14th of a series of articles featuring wildlife images from Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats, Kevin Wright presents three images taken as part of a weekly photo challenge
Sometimes, you need to make time. I have been photographing as a hobby for 18 years on digital, and before that on film when I was a teenager. I’m a member of Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society and for a few years now, some of the members have been participating in an online photography challenge called 52 Frames, which sets a weekly challenge.
As I’m still working, I never thought I would be able to find the time to get involved with the challenges. This year, however, I joined anyway. Surprisingly, I haven’t dropped out yet or missed a week. I have managed to find the time. The challenges are varied and push you into doing things photgraphically that you may never have tried. Some examples so far are self-portraits, mood and levitation! Often, you don’t feel inspired or motivated straight away.
One particular week in March, all I had to achieve was a photo with a shallow depth of field. That usually means a sharp subject with a blurry background. I’ve shot a lot of sport before, so that was doable. Then, all that week, whilst cycling home from work past Alexandra Lake on Wanstead Flats, there had been geese and ducks sitting on a spit of land which appears as the higher water levels of winter subside. So, that Saturday evening, I grabbed my camera and telephoto lens and headed to the lake to get some shots. When I arrived, all that was there was a badly placed duck! I almost turned around but decided to go and have a closer look. Maybe I could convince the duck to move? As I got closer, I was very surprised to see a large Red-eared Terrapin basking in full view. Who needs geese and ducks? I set up the camera and tripod, keeping a decent distance. People passing by were also intrigued. I had a conversation with a lady who was convinced it wasn’t real, and another with a guy and his friends who said they had never seen one in 20 years.
I’m no wildlife expert. However, I do know that Red-eared Terrapins are not native to the UK. I briefly looked into it and it seems they were probably set free in the nineties; people had them as pets, possibly linked to the popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Apparently, they can be quite easily seen in the pond in the City of London Cemetery and also in Wanstead Park. This one must have been around a while as it was quite big, its shell being eight to nine inches in length.
While I was there I got some other shots at the other end of the lake. First, an Egyptian Goose (bottom photo), which are also non-native and first established themselves in the London area in 1990, and later on Wanstead Flats in 2011. My last shot was of a Coot. I know they are not exotic but they do make a characterful subject.
I was glad I found the time.
For more information on the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society, visit wnstd.com/wwps
