Tyler Stanley
Marketing and Social Media Specialist
On August 19, 2026, Metro Parks celebrated World Photography Day by sharing the results of its monthly photo of the month series. Columbus and Franklin County residents share their photo expeditions with Metro Parks’ visitor engagement team each month, resulting in some truly incredible demonstrations of artistry and talent. This month, inboxes were flooded with a surplus of submissions showcasing both wildlife and landscapes, so it only felt right to highlight more than one selection in concurrence with World Photography Day.
The first featured photo this month was captured by Mark Bailey II depicting a pair of red-tailed hawks high above Inniswood Metro Gardens. “We were initially there just to walk around and enjoy the day, with no intention of finding hawks that were so accessible for viewing,” said Mark. Loud vocalizations drew his attention to the pair, who were mid-lunch. “I shot a good deal of video of them as I had a shorter 70-200 telephoto [lens] on me.” Using specialized lenses and high shutter speeds can be helpful for photographing wildlife, as it isn’t often that animals stay so still for long. If you see a photo opportunity, take it!
The second featured photo for August showcases a bald eagle surveying Pickerington Ponds Metro Park. This image, captured by Doug Evans, wasn’t planned for. Doug elaborated, “I probably have a thousand images of the eagles at Pickerington Ponds, and when I go there I always say ‘no more images of eagles!’ But… I see an eagle and I have to take the shot!” As America’s mascot, it can be hard to resist taking a photo of such an iconic bird. Wildlife photography often balances in-the-moment spontaneity and advance planning in the pursuit of the perfect image.
While some photographers take a more spontaneous approach, Drew Riley meticulously planned for his featured image of an indigo bunting on a blazing star. “It took me two hours to get the bunting to land there. Patience, wet feet, and the Marlin app! I play the bunting’s call on the app to attract it.” It just goes to show that wildlife photography isn’t always as simple as point and shoot. Sometimes luring an animal with a call, getting your feet a little muddy, and having a lot of patience allows for a truly incredible image.
Photography serves as a hobby for many Columbus residents, and for Thomas Wesney (who submitted eight stunning photographs this month), it has grown into a passion. “Wildlife photography has become a huge part of my life. I’ve been surprised and grateful to witness all of the wonderful wildlife we have in central Ohio,” said Thomas. Though his “home” park is Blendon Woods, this photo of a sandpiper was captured by Thomas along the water at Highbanks Metro Park. Well worth the visit, in our opinion!
In addition to the wide array of wildlife Metro Parks provides a home for, there are some breathtaking views and landscapes across the 22 parks. This image, taken at Slate Run Metro Park, was submitted by Ashton Reese. While July’s wildfire smoke may have been a nuisance to many, Ashton took the opportunity to capture the orange glow over the Slate Run wetlands during a morning walk. “I took this one at the start of my walk. I was looking at a wetland and thought the shape of the light on the water looked nice in the small break of foliage,” stated Ashton.
Interested in having your work featured on the Metro Parks’ pages? Submit your photos to mediagroup@metroparks.net for our September photo of the month feature between August 21 and September 17 for a chance to be highlighted.