David and Sharon’s Backyard

Close friends of ours have a deep love for the birds that visit their backyard and the surrounding neighbourhood. When they asked me to photograph their feathered visitors, my brief was a little different from my usual style — I wasn’t just capturing birds, but the story of their garden and the special place these birds call home.

Normally, I tend to avoid including barbecues, outdoor chairs and railings in my wildlife images. But in this setting, those everyday elements belong. They are part of David and Sharon’s warm, welcoming space, where Magpies, Butcher Birds, Ravens, Kookaburras, Currawongs, Parrots and other avian friends drop in multiple times a day to feed, sing and say hello. These photographs honour that connection — a beautiful blend of nature and home life.

Their favourite birds are the magpies, and breeding season begins next month. David has already put in a special request for a photo of a mother magpie with her young. I can’t wait to be there, camera in hand, when it happens. If I do it right, I think this picture may end up framed on his wall.

I’ve included a few variations of each photograph — different crops and levels of zoom — so we can discover together which perspective best reflects their beautiful backyard visitors.