Wildlife at night

[stevefraseruk]

Originally Posted by patrickwilson86

Getting close to animals in the wild can be dangerous, and many a wildlife photographer has the scars to prove it. At the zoo you can usually get close enough without any risk whatsoever.

But a photo of an animal in it's natural surroundings is so much nicer

http://steve-fraseruk.deviantart.com...F35930932&qo=2

[Hardrock40]

Originally Posted by stevefraseruk

But a photo of an animal in it's natural surroundings is so much nicer

http://steve-fraseruk.deviantart.com...F35930932&qo=2

Agree, Hadn't been to a zoo in years but the camera told me to go.

I went and was reminded why I don't go to zoo's. I'm not a tree hugger, got some nice photo's but zoo's are just wrong. IMO.

Safer, I agree with that too. I'm not going around bears, lions or anything that can eat me for a photo.

I had to go get my camera the other night with a raccoon out there. Didn't like doing that but the rain was coming. It walked away, I grabbed my stuff and got the heck outta there.

[Hardrock40]

4 1/2 hours into it tonight and not one critter. Heard the coyotes for the first time in a month and saw a possume but nothing in the lens yet.

Anybody else doing any night shots?

[stevefraseruk]

Originally Posted by Hardrock40

4 1/2 hours into it tonight and not one critter. Heard the coyotes for the first time in a month and saw a possume but nothing in the lens yet.

Anybody else doing any night shots?

Work nights most of time - out in British countryside - weather is biggest problem here, finding some dry between the rain showers. Will keep trying

[Hardrock40]

I got lucky on a few weekends past. Put everything outside and watched the weather radar pretty close. Seen the green coming (rain) and went to get the gear. Twice I just made it in before the rain came.

This past weekend I had the gear out at night for nine hours and got no photos. Then last night I didn't set up and there were critters everywhere.

[KeBul]

Hi Guys,

I've also been doing some night time wildlife photography, and it has certainly proved to be a challenge.

I have short term access to some badgers that visit a garden where they are fed. Started off at high ISO (12800) in fading light, and was quite pleased with those considering the high ISO but lately the stripy faced ones have been coming along when it is dark, so I've had to start using flash, initially just one flash unit off camera but now have moved to 2 off camera flashes one to the left and one to the right in a 1:4 ratio. A camera mounted ST-E2 providing the wireless trigger for the flashes. Autofocus has proven to be very difficult in these conditions, although I changed to IR AF assist from the ST-E2 it still struggles to focus.

Anyway here's one from my first session with the dual flash setup.



Cheers

Kev

[Hardrock40]

I like it kev.

I've been thinking about two flashes also. But then I can not make up my mind if I want it to look like daylight or night time.

The last shots I managed to take I only had light on the subject, the first had light everywhere, now I'm stuck in the middle somewhere not knowing which I like best.

Great shot you have there.

[KeBul]

Thanks, I was pleased with that one.

Well given time I might venture into variations of lighting, the current vision is for a main source of light with a second to reduce shadows but not entirely eliminate them this providing an element of lighting texture (hence the 1:4 ratio on the 2 flashes).

I have a 2 more from that session that have more light falloff behind due to the subject being further away from the bushes and they do look like they were taken in the dark but also something odd was happening with those in that the fill flash wasn't reducing the shadows, even when I changed the ratio to 1:1, catchlights in the eyes indicate both flashes fired but I was running out of time so didn't manage to get it resolved.

At the moment I'm only getting time with them maybe once every couple of weeks and it's a unique project for me in that I'm coming back with only a few shots per session (on the plus side doesn't take long to sort out the files ). That might change if I can sort out the focussing in pitch black issues, I've tried a torch but they get spooked by it, I really need to test in the dark here at home and sort out the IR AF assist.

It's good though as it is pushing me outside of my normal photographic comfort zone.

Kev

[Hardrock40]

The focus problem twisted me around a few times also. I was using off camera flash and bait to get the animal in the correct spot I had already set the focus to.

Then I went back to on camera flash so the focus assist would work at half press of the shutter using pocket wizards III. I didn't like the direct flash at all.

So I cut the top and one side out of a white plastic bottle, slipped it on the flash, secured it with a rubber band. With that I point the flash up and sort of bounce it on the target, set in manual.

I also turn on all focus points and still use bait.

I cheat a little also. I have outdoor security cameras. I can watch the camera and bait from indoors. Then start taking photo's when the critter goes for the bait right in front of the camera.

[Hardrock40]

missing out on another good night 3 hours set up and saw a possum and two cats, gonna give em bout 30 or more minutes