Tuesday 10 February 2026

On Tuesday, Wendy Ball, a member of Steyning Camera Club, shared her journey from “clueless” to “commissioned,” in the field of Wildlife photography using flash. Proving that even the steepest learning curves can be conquered with grit and a gear.

Wendy began her journey a few years ago with zero experience. Guided by mentors like Dave Plummer and John Gooday, she started with fixed flash setups to capture Tawny Owls and Otters. She admits to moments of total bewilderment as she navigated the complex world of triggers, sensors, and trail cameras.

Her garden is where Wendy experiments and develops her skills. Setting up multiple flashes, while protecting them from the elements for overnight shoots, is a logistical marathon. Yet, the results speak for themselves:

Intimate portraits of foxes and hedgehogs.

Creative lighting effects that elevate a standard shot into art.

Wendy has also had the opportunity to capture images of Owls and other wildlife in a local re-wilding area. Again, more experimentation, but being rewarded with some truly great images.

There has been more learning; capturing Swallows in flight and walking us through the process and experiments.

Finally, Wendy has moved on to capturing creative images of birds in flight, with a black background.

Getting it right in Camera. In wildlife photography, there are strict limits on post-processing, making it vital to get the shot right the moment the shutter clicks. This philosophy has led Wendy to produce amazing images of badgers, swallows, and puffins.

Facebook: Wendy Ball Wildlife Photography

Flickr: Wendy Ball

Instagram: @wendyballoldhouse