Advice on photographing a bat?

[kat.hayes]

I have a bat that seems to hangout in my backyard in one of three different spots every night. The backyard has very little light, and the only way I am able to find him is by shining a flash light app from my iPhone in one of these 3 spots and if the bat is there I am able to see its eyes. I can do this from a distance, though if I get too close it scares the bat away.

I am relatively new to photography, with that said, I crank my ISO up all the way, and slowly walk close to the bat to take pictures, though it is still too dark. I try using the flashlight app to light the bat a bit, though that scares it away. The other problem is that it is too dark to focus so I have to focus on light in my house before I approach the areas with the bat, hold the button down, and then I have one shot to get the picture before I can go back and refocus on light from my house again.

I'm using a 5DM3 and have access to a EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L and a EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS. So far I've been only using the EF 24-70mm.

1. Can anyone recommend any settings/ideas for achieving what I'm trying to do?
2. Is there some other way to get the camera to focus when there is no light so I do not have to walk all the way back to where the light is after each shot?

Thanks!

[shinksma]

Make sure the Louisville logo is right-side up. Otherwise it just looks wrong.

Oh wait...



Use Back Button focus to establish a focus point/plane. That way you can press the shutter release all you ant and the camera/lens does not refocus.

Use a flash. You'll possibly only get one shot before the bat flies away, but it should illuminate enough for you. Of you need to throw the flash further, get a Better Beamer (a flash reflector that keeps the beam more focused to throw greater distances). I've not used one, but they are used by folks for birds in trees in dim light, from what I understand.

Try using the 70-200 - you can get the shot from further away.

Dunno what else to suggest.

Oh, and this thread belongs in the "Discuss Wildlife" subforum.

shinksma

[Hardrock40]

drop down a few post and check out wildlife at night thread. Nice shot of a bat there maybe that guy can help.

[stevefraseruk]

Originally Posted by Hardrock40

drop down a few post and check out wildlife at night thread. Nice shot of a bat there maybe that guy can help.

Cheers Hardrock

http://steve-fraseruk.deviantart.com...et=96#/d4t1gpe

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...2&d=1343230312

This was taken using a Fuji Finepix just pointing and clicking as the bat flew around me, it took about 40 or so shots to get this one, it's not as good as I would like but hope to maybe get some more as the weather improves this year.

The main thing I find with any night wildlife shots is to take time - the animals usually have set routes and routines, if watched over a few nights the best spots to get shots can be used.

Good luck

[McMongo]

I was watching a bat couple of nights ago. I set up for him but he was gone. What I was going to try was flash about 3/4 power with my 70-200, set the iso to 800, f stop up to aroud F11 to get a deeper DOF. Prefocus on something thats at the approx distance, then take a few test shots into tall trees and adjust the flash for proper exposer. Figured I would get a picture and then adjust from there.

That was my starting point setup.
David

[MCAsan]

At Western North Carolina Foto Fest earlier in September, the wife and I met a photographer named Mac. He had amazing bat photographs. You might want to check out his site. Look at the bats page.

http://www.mrspiff.com

[kat.hayes]

Thanks everyone.

[macroimage]

I would suggest to set up the photo in the daytime. Put the 70-200 on a tripod at 200mm with IS off and prefocus on the known location where the bat likes to be, then set the lens to manual focus and tape the focus ring. Mark the position of the tripod legs. Later come back when it is dark, put the lens back on the tripod in the same location, turn off the camera beep, use a remote release cable and take the picture. The bat may even be still enough for an exposure of a few seconds for a fairly clean shot. Try different settings.