Opposite View Wildlife Photography

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Opposite View Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography by Rhiannon Law My name is Rhiannon Law and I’m an amateur wildlife photographer based in Glasgow.

Having always had a love of nature, I enjoyed looking at wildlife photos but never thought I’d end up being the person taking them. Following a surprise Christmas present of a DSLR back in 2010, all that changed. I quickly became completely absorbed by all things wildlife photography – the techniques, the creativity, the gear (I’m a Nikon shooter) but mostly, of course, the opportunity to watch wi

ldlife. I originally built my website aiming to use it as a tool to improve my technique. I’ve since refreshed it to feature galleries that showcase my best work, along with a revamped blog. My original hope to record the beauty of the wild places I visit is still true and I can continue to guarantee that no image on this website has been taken at the expense of distressing the subject. Thank you for visiting and taking the time to read this. If you have any comments or questions, opportunities for photography or if you would like to use any of my images, please contact me.

06/08/2026

🌡️POV: when things heat up 🫠

As a wildlife photographer, it can be hard to play it cool. Like those moments when you need to stay completely still while inside you’re jumping for joy, or when you have to force yourself to walk slowly because you’re so excited by an encounter that you want to run towards it.

When I spotted the fox near the brow of the hill as I walked my usual lunchtime route, I struggled to contain my excitement. Its rust-red coat against the bright green backdrop of a field of lush spring grass drew my eye from a good distance away. I knew I had to get into the woods next to the field as quickly as possible if I wanted to capture any images of him. At the same time, I knew my movements had to remain calm and quiet to ensure I didn’t attract his attention.

The question was, would he turn and head back over to the other side of the field and out of sight before I could reach him?

As I walked further along the track, I looked at him through my viewfinder to try to work out which way he was heading. And that’s when I saw it. That’s when I realised that I would definitely need to get closer to capture any usable images. That’s when I noticed the shimmering effect that wildlife photographers all over the world dread: heat haze.

In my latest ‘through my lens’ blog, I explain what causes heat haze in wildlife photography, how it affects image sharpness, ways to reduce its impact and how to use it creatively.

Head to the link in the comments to read it 👇

Amateur Photographer
Outdoor Photography

03/08/2026

🦌Deer to me - part two…

In the first part of this series, I wrote about how three roe deer transformed ordinary lunch breaks into a project that would shape the next four years of my wildlife photography.

What I didn’t appreciate at the time was that finding the deer was only the beginning. The real challenge wasn’t getting close to them. It was learning how to behave in a way that allowed them to carry on with their lives.

In my latest ‘species spotlight’ blog - and the second blog in this series - I share how observing roe deer behaviour and practising respectful fieldcraft helped me earn the privilege of sharing their space.

Head to the link in the comments to read it 👇

The British Deer Society - Official
Mammal Society
BBC Springwatch
BBC Countryfile Magazine

01/08/2026

🗞️ Read all about it! 👀

Today's the first day of August (where is the year going?!), which can only mean that yesterday saw me publish my latest newsletter. I had a few exciting things to share in this issue, including the story behind today's exhibitionists - a pair of great crested grebes.

I also explain what causes heat haze in wildlife photography, how it affects image sharpness, ways to reduce its impact and how to use it creatively.

Plus, I share how observing roe deer behaviour and practising respectful fieldcraft helped me earn the privilege of sharing their space.

And finally, I give you …I hope it makes you smile 😆

To find out more, you'll need to read the latest issue by heading to the link in the comments 👇

If you enjoy it, please subscribe 🙏

29/07/2026

🏖️ POV: the tide has stolen your sun lounger (aka rock) 🪨

We watched as this harbour seal clung on to its rock for as long as possible on our visit to Scalpsie Bay on the Isle of Bute last September.

As I’d discovered on our trip to Arran, harbour seals, unlike their grey seal cousins, show a strong preference for familiar haul-out spots. I knew the seals of Scalpsie Bay were often seen basking on the rocks along this stretch of shore during low tide, so we kept our distance and moved slowly and quietly along the nearby path, just in case.

We were in luck – as we moved from the path to the shore we could clearly see a number of harbour seals sunning themselves on the rocks. By giving the seals plenty of space and sitting quietly to monitor their reactions to us, they remained relaxed. As the light shifted from harsh and bright to dull and overcast, I was able to capture photos of the seals as they basked, swam about and failed miserably to remain resting on rocks that were being reclaimed by the incoming tide - like this individual. It was a delightful couple of hours with these magnificent marine mammals.

Visit Bute
Mammal Society
BBC Wildlife Magazine
Amateur Photographer
Outdoor Photography

26/07/2026

🦀 Feeling crabby! 😒

I can't believe it's nearly the end of the weekend already…and this young herring gull couldn’t believe how hard it was to get a crab down its neck. I watched it struggling to keep it down - and coughing it up numerous times - for a number of minutes before it eventually succeeded in eating it.

Contrary to what the sensationalist press would have you believe, not all herring gulls are obsessed with stealing our food. Many prefer foraging for more natural food than feeding on our waste. In fact, I have managed to capture many more images of this behaviour than I have of photos of gulls eating human food, despite trying to photograph the latter.

Next time you're by the seaside, keep a close eye on foraging gulls as they root through the rocks and seaw**d, and watch for individuals carrying whole shellfish and molluscs in their beaks. If you stay focused on these birds, you may witness them fly off to find a hard surface to drop their prize onto to smash it open.

Remember when photographing this behaviour to allow enough space in your viewfinder to fit in both the prey item falling and the bird that dropped it – this may mean zooming out. The bird will usually repeat this process a few times before it can crack open the shell, so you should get more than one opportunity to capture the moment.

It's worth reiterating that both lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls are on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern list, with lesser black-backed gulls amber listed and herring gulls red listed. The constant bad press these species receive doesn't help. Despite all British gull species being protected - and it being a criminal offence to kill or injure these species and destroy their eggs or nests - there are still plenty of reports of members of the public harming and killing these birds.

24/07/2026

POV: gracefully gliding into the weekend

Ok, I'm actually more stumbling awkwardly but happily into the weekend after what's felt like a long working week. Maybe I should try to be more fulmar?!

I photographed this soaring stunner back in March 2024 in an unusual location.

Next to a Michelin star restaurant where you can eat tattie scones with caviar and soured cream for £150 a plate while families spill out of the nearby aquarium carrying cuddly meerkats and plastic sharks, many pairs of dark eyes look on. Overlooking St Andrews Bay, dotted on the cliffs and the grassy knolls next to one of the main tourist attractions, these stunning seabirds were tucked up on the rock face or gliding nearby. This fulmar was perched on the cliff face next to the aquarium and I could stand on the footpath and capture images without disturbing any of the resting birds.

In flight, fulmars have an infuriating ability to appear and disappear in moments, no matter how hard you stare at the horizon and watch for them. They defy gravity, seemingly bending space and time to their will. Much of the magic and mystery of this species comes from their ability to use the wind. Flying on stiff wings and using its strong tail as a rudder, the fulmar can adeptly adapt to the conditions. Soaring or gliding past at terrific speed, they seem most serene when the weather is severe, expending little energy riding the storms. Calm days are problematic for the fulmar’s particular style of flight, so on those occasions, you will find them sitting on the sea or at the nest.

These birds are as miraculous as they are mysterious. Part of me knows we will never really know the fulmar. Maybe that is what I find so beguiling when I lock eyes with this ghost of the sky as it materialises in front of me, out of nowhere.

Scottish Seabird Centre
Scottish Wildlife Trust
RSPB Scotland
BTO British Trust for Ornithology
Fife Free Press

22/07/2026

🦋 Can you identify all these beauties? 🤔

I'll pop the answer in the comments so you can test your knowledge 😁

And if you're keen on spotting butterflies, you'll be delighted to hear that the 2026 is underway! Head over to Butterfly Conservation to get all the information you need to get involved.

Butterflies are indicators of a healthy natural environment. However, with half of Britain’s butterfly species already threatened or near threatened with extinction, we still need the data from the butterfly counts to understand how our insects are responding to the changing climate and to take action to protect them.

21/07/2026

POV: making the most of the sun before it disappears 🌞

The boardwalk around Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve was a literal hotspot for common lizards when we visited back in August 2024. I hoped to see one or two of these beauties basking, but we saw many more than that. Sat down on the boardwalk to capture images from a lower perspective, I fully appreciated why the lizards were out sunning themselves; my bottom was toasty despite the cold, strong winds. The grass blowing around made for some interesting focusing issues when photographing the lizards. But, on the whole, they stayed still, which helped me out. Using back button focus prevented the camera from locking on to the waving vegetation.

The UK’s most common and widespread reptile, the common lizard is unusual because, rather than laying its eggs, it incubates them inside its body and effectively ‘gives birth’ to three to eleven young in July. We timed our visit to Flanders Moss perfectly – not just because the sun made a rare appearance but also because the tiny, darker coloured, young lizards were easy to spot and photograph. I also loved the varied colours of the adults - like this shimmering brown and green beauty.

Amateur Photographer
Amphibian & Reptile Conservation
BBC Wildlife Magazine
Scottish Wildlife Trust

16/07/2026

Once you pop, you can't stop 😬

Today's image is of some very hungry coot chicks with their parent. Unfortunately, the food that was being delivered to them was a Pringle crisp - not very nutritious! It's amazing - and often sad - to see what food gets thrown to them.

I captured this photo on a stroll around Hogganfield Loch on a dull and overcast spring day back in May 2024.

Coots are monogamous birds, meaning they mate with only one partner throughout the breeding season. After the female lays a clutch of six to nine eggs in a large and untidy-looking nest of water w**d, both parents take turns incubating the eggs.

Once the eggs hatch, the real challenge begins as the parents tirelessly feed and protect their downy offspring – often with the male and female splitting the brood and attending to their assigned chicks. And, boy, are those chicks squeaky and insistent!

Seven Lochs Wetland Park
Glasgow Times
Glasgow Live
BBC Scotland News
Rspb Glasgow

15/07/2026

♥️ Red reflections are the best…

…particularly when they colour coordinate with one of your favourite birds ♥️

I photographed this black guillemot from the Esplanade in Greenock, where these charismatic seabirds were flying to and from their nesting sites in the sea wall. The industrial backdrop of the harbour, with its vibrant red crane, added a fiery burst of colour, perfectly complementing the striking red legs of the bird - which you can just about see here - against the cooler blue tones of the scene.

I simply adore black guillemots, with their Ferrari red gape and legs. So, I feel incredibly fortunate that the Firth of Clyde is a great place to spot the Tystie (as this bird is known in the Scottish Isles). These birds don't travel far from their breeding sites between seasons, so once you spot these birds a couple of times in the same area, you know you stand a good chance of seeing them there regularly.

BBC Wildlife Magazine
Scottish Wildlife Trust
RSPB Scotland
BBC Countryfile Magazine
Greenock Telegraph

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