Capturing Light and Challenge: Mallard Duck and Coot at Warnham Local Nature Reserve

On 17th August 2025, I spent a few hours exploring Warnham Local Nature Reserve, one of my favourite places for wildlife photography. The conditions that day were far from ideal—the sun was directly in front of me, creating harsh highlights and deep shadows that can be tricky to manage behind the lens.

Despite the challenge, moments like these often reveal something unexpected. While photographing a mallard duck and a coot out on the water, I noticed how the strong backlight made each splash sparkle. What started as a difficult shoot turned into a fascinating study of light, texture, and motion.

With a bit of careful post-processing—mainly reducing the heavy contrast and balancing the tones—the images came to life. The reflective water added a subtle shimmer that highlighted the birds beautifully against the glowing surface.

This session reminded me that sometimes, the most challenging conditions produce the most creative results. Nature doesn’t always present perfect lighting, but learning to adapt to what’s in front of you often leads to unique and striking photographs.