erasmus666 Loc: Nuneaton England

On Friday evening I'm going on a guided walk along a canal to take photos of bats. Has anyone any tips about photographing such creatures please? Obviously, flash is out of the question so I'm thinking of using mainly my 35mm f1.8 prime with my D300 but please let me know if you've got any better suggestions. Also tips about aperture, ISO and shutter speed on my D300 would be most welcome. Many thanks as ever. Michael

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

There are laws about photographing bats here, I suggest you check on that there.

Bats - night - flying

good luck

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/mammal-forums/32888-bat-photography.html

EricLPT Loc: Jonesborough TN

As high an ISO as you can stand, shoot wide open for the most light, prefocus on an area you know the bats will fly past that way they will be in focus already, pan with the moving bats.

You'll need to be close with a 35mm lens.

Good luck!

Eric

erasmus666 Loc: Nuneaton England

Many thanks for that. Seems strange doesn't it: bring a bank to its knees or pass off horse as beef and you get nothing done to you. Take a photo of a bat with a flash and the book is thrown at you. Something wrong somewhere but thanks for the link.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Pay close attention to the local time. While bats do not have alarm clocks, but they are creatures of habit. Plan on the first swarm 10-15 minutes before official sunset. Also, try not to be beneath the swarm, and, if by bad luck you are, keep your mouth shut. When bats swarm, they immediately divest themselves of unnecessary weight; need I elucidate? As the bats swarm, try to lock onto a moderate-sized break-away group and fire shotgun style. Plan on another swarm or two, maybe three, at 3-5 minute intervals from the first.

Flash won't work on bats as the range changes so rapidly. It will also tend to disorient them. Do not believe the old wive's tale; bats are not blind. They have excellent eyesight and vocal radar, called echo-location. They will not attack you, but if you see one on the ground, do NOT touch it. Put a box or a coffee tin over it. Bats in good health are seldom rabid, but a fallen or sick bat is dangerous.

Good luck. Bats are elusive and hard to photograph, but one good shot for the evening will seem like a lottery win. If you want close-up shots of a bat, contact a local bat preservation group and ask to photograph fostered bats. For bats in flight, try ISO 400, 1/500 second @ f/2.8; adjust as darkness descends.

For those in Northern California, you can learn more by going to:

http://www.norcalbats.org

For the OP, learn more by going to http://www.warksbats.co.uk/

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Ashamed that "flash is out of the question". Years ago on the island of Tobago I set out a plate of mashed fruits to attract butterflies. As it grew dark I realized that bats were coming down and helping themselves. In those days of film, I loaded up with 400 ISO film, got the telephoto out, set the flash on TTL, sat in a chair and blasted off 36 exposures and hoped for the best. When I returned and had the film processed (remember those days of waiting?) I discovered that I had some fantastic stop-action photos of bats in mid-flight, swooping down to the plate of food. And the flash did not seem to bother the bats one bit.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

Just curious...what's the problem with flash and bats...?

erasmus666 Loc: Nuneaton England

Bats and their immediate habitat in the U.K are protected by law and it's a criminal offence to disturb them in any way. Using flash causes them distress and so is a punishable offence although I don't know what the penalty is.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

I was thinking the were basically blind...and operated on a kind of radar...obviously they are nocturnal. Interesting...I'll try to do some reading...having trouble understanding their "distress..."

erasmus666 Loc: Nuneaton England

It's a myth that bats are blind.

http://kids.discovery.com/tell-me/halloween/are-bats-really-blind

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mud, some also ask why they can't drive their 4x4's to the top of that cryptobitic dune.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

still haven't heard a solid reason why photographing bats with electronic flash is hazardous, or, oh dear, upsetting to bats...or, for that matter, in any way harmful to my favorite insect eaters...

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

That is one short (wide) focal length to try to shoot little critters, such as bats. With that they would have to fly pretty much into your face to get a shot. If I would try, I take my70-200 and probably a longer lens too.

wonkytripod Loc: Peterborough UK

Possibly up to £5000 and or 6 months in prison for each offence.

This seems to be the penalties for most wildlife crimes that I commonly have to quote on the legislation courses I have to deliver.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

[quote=wonkytripod]Possibly up to £5000 and or 6 months in prison for each offence.

This seems to be the penalties for most wildlife crimes that I commonly have to quote on the legislation courses I have to deliver.[/quote

So I suppose if you were shooting say 8 frames per second and really got into it... you could do like 20 to life...sounds a bit like someone has bats in their belfry.......