I was at a busy park when I spotted a rare river otter. The only camera gear I had with me was for portraits. I took the photos anyway

While visiting a bustling park in Michigan, I had a chance encounter with an unusual wild animal that I had never photographed in the wild before: a river otter. I was there to test new cameras for my role as the US Editor for Digital Camera World, but had only a 90mm prime lens on my mirrorless camera. The park was teeming with activity – kids playing, joggers on a pedestrian bridge, and a nearby highway roaring – making it an unlikely place for wildlife photography.

As we walked across the bridge, my 7-year-old shouted, "Look, an otter!" My initial thought was that it was probably a muskrat, but upon closer inspection, I confirmed it was indeed a North American River Otter. The 90mm lens I had, typically used for portraits, proved to be a suitable choice for capturing the otter up close. Despite not having a super telephoto lens, the otter was close enough to hear him crunching on fish and crayfish.

The evening light was uneven, with the otter swimming under the bridge's shadow and then back into the sunlight. I managed to capture a few environmental portraits, though they weren't of magazine-worthy quality. The experience was memorable, bringing a smile to my face and proving that sometimes the most rewarding wildlife encounters happen when least expected.