I didn’t plan to take wildlife photos that day. It was just a slow recovery walk after a few harder bike workouts — the kind of quiet stroll I sometimes take around the outskirts of my town. The fields there look almost empty at this time of year — ploughed soil, cold air, a touch of wind, and that late-autumn stillness that feels like everything is already waiting for winter. Even though it’s only a few hundred metres from my house, once you step off the road it becomes a surprisingly quiet, open space, wrapped in the soft, earthy smell of damp soil and the faint rustle of dry plants.
A curious vole peeks out of its burrow for a brief moment before disappearing again
During a family walk to a small lake near our house in central Poland, my son suddenly pointed toward the grass and whispered that something was moving. We stopped and waited. For a moment, nothing happened — only the faint rustle of dry stems and the cool scent of damp leaves carried by the evening air.
Three roe deer in the evening light — photographed during a late-autumn cycling trip. The golden hour glow added warmth and texture to the scene
Late autumn often brings the best kind of light for photography — low, soft, and full of warm color. During one of my short cycling trips, I noticed three roe deer standing in a freshly ploughed field. The sun was setting, and the orange tones of the soil and the trees in the background created a beautiful golden hour atmosphere. It was one of those moments when everything aligns into a simple but effective wildlife composition.
A black horse captured in golden light — autumn sunset photography in the countryside
There are moments in photography when everything aligns — light, subject, and atmosphere. Late one autumn afternoon, I found myself in a quiet field as the sun began its descent. The warm glow of the golden hour bathed the grass and trees in amber light, while a black horse moved gracefully across the pasture.
Wild goats navigating steep rocks under the ancient walls of Alanya Castle
A solitary wild goat standing confidently on a cliffside near Alanya Castle
Amid the dramatic cliffs and the timeworn fortifications of Alanya Castle in Turkey, I stumbled upon a small herd of wild goats navigating the rocky slopes with astonishing ease.
Jackdaw perched on my balcony satellite dish — a fleeting, up-close moment at dusk
It wasn’t planned — one moment the satellite dish on my balcony was empty, and the next, a jackdaw had landed, claiming it like a throne. I had just seconds to grab the camera, switch lenses, and inch closer without startling it. No time for a tripod or careful settings — just instinct, fast fingers, and a bit of luck.
A tagged Dunlin (Calidris alpina) photographed at Mewia Łacha Nature Reserve on Poland’s northern coast — a key stopover for migratory shorebirds
On the windswept Baltic coast, where the Vistula River meets the sea, you’ll find Rezerwat Przyrody Mewia Łacha — one of Poland’s most unique and important birdwatching locations. This protected nature reserve near the river’s estuary is a key stopover site for thousands of migratory birds, including the Dunlin (Calidris alpina) — a small, fast-moving wader known for its distinctive plumage and constant motion.
A peaceful moment with Poland’s iconic European bison — captured in Gołuchów, a key site in the species’ conservation story
The European bison — or żubr, as it’s called in Polish — is the largest land mammal in Europe and one of the continent’s greatest wildlife conservation success stories. Once driven to near extinction by habitat loss and hunting, the species has made a remarkable comeback thanks to decades of dedicated reintroduction programs and habitat protection.
Quiet moment among the grass — this relaxed duck offered a rare portrait opportunity in soft afternoon light
Wildlife photography isn’t always about action or drama — sometimes, the most compelling moments are the quiet ones. This duck portrait, taken in soft focus and nestled among spring grass, captures one of those rare pauses. Half-hidden by gently swaying blades, the mallard offered a calm, unguarded moment in the golden afternoon light — a perfect reminder of the beauty found in stillness.
A curious red squirrel pauses on a tree trunk, its expressive stance and fluffed tail highlighted by the morning light
Sometimes the best shots aren’t planned — they’re stumbled upon. This image came about during a casual bike ride through the woods, camera slung over my shoulder more out of habit than expectation. Then, I spotted it: a red squirrel midway down a tree trunk, frozen in a moment of curiosity. Its ears stood tall, tail arched like a plume, and it looked directly toward the lens. It was a quick shot — barely time to think, let alone prepare — but something about that posture, that alert stillness, demanded to be captured.
Some moments in nature feel almost too poetic to be real — and this was one of them. Just before sunrise, with a violet haze hanging low over the fields, four cranes sliced silently through the still air, their wings backlit by a soft, pink glow. The towering silhouettes of wind turbines loomed behind them, half-swallowed by the fog — industrial giants caught in a rare moment of natural serenity.
A female blackbird perched in early spring—patient, alert, and perfectly camouflaged among the branches.
Did you know female blackbirds (unlike males) wear muted brown plumage? A master of blending in.
This photo captures a female blackbird perched on a branch during early spring. Her brown plumage blends with the surroundings, while her alert posture shows the quiet activity of the season. The image highlights the simple beauty of wildlife during seasonal transitions.
Shutter and Saddle 