Bat Photography
May 14, 2012 05:36:24 #
I was trying last night to take photos of the bats flying round the caravan but with little success, it was very frustrating! Can anyone advise on what settings I would need on my camera.
May 14, 2012 06:02:27 #
I have been thinking about trying something similar. We have bats in the chimney at the local elementary school. I was planning to use a couple remote flashes pointed above the chimney. Prefocus just above the chimney with medium speed, aperture and ISO. Take pictures right after dark when they come out.
I think flash is necessary, and it will help freeze the bats no matter the shutter speed. If the flash is off camera it will help put a shadow on one side of them, make them look dimensional instead of flat.
Good luck, wish me the same.
I think flash is necessary, and it will help freeze the bats no matter the shutter speed. If the flash is off camera it will help put a shadow on one side of them, make them look dimensional instead of flat.
Good luck, wish me the same.
May 14, 2012 06:34:14 #
Roger Hicks
Loc: Aquitaine
It's going to be VERY, VERY difficult. Bats move extremely fast, jinking all over the place, and because the distance from the flash will vary widely, exposure is going to be a swine. Your best bet is self-triggering flash from someone like http://www.jama.fr/
We have bats living in the stables: they zip around the courtyard at twilight. Quite frankly, I've never even considered trying to photograph them, even in a space just 7 metres square.
Cheers,
R.
We have bats living in the stables: they zip around the courtyard at twilight. Quite frankly, I've never even considered trying to photograph them, even in a space just 7 metres square.
Cheers,
R.
May 14, 2012 09:43:39 #
May 15, 2012 09:46:12 #
It's been a long term goal of mine to get the bats dropping out of their bat houses at dusk. If I manage to get any shots, I'll post them. As you said, they are such acrobatic flyers that catching them in flight would be difficult.
Did you know that bats have to fall in order to take flight? Unlike birds and jet planes, they can't take off from the ground.
Did you know that bats have to fall in order to take flight? Unlike birds and jet planes, they can't take off from the ground.
May 15, 2012 23:21:38 #
Can you remotely mount your camera, so it is near the bats' home and use some sort of remote trigger, or motion sensor camera? I agree with the idea of off-camera flash(es), too.
Good luck & post your results.
Good luck & post your results.
May 16, 2012 02:47:02 #
Start shooting as soon as the bats start flying. Take a week or so to just watch them and time their flight in minutes before sundown; I bet it will be about 10 minutes.
Do not try to follow a single bat. You are not that fast.
Shotgun! Shoot a hundred pictures as fast as you can.
Shoot wide open at your fastest shutter speeds.
Do you know what kind of bats you are sheeting? Species, sex, age and migratory habits will help you research your subjects and find better ways to get good shots.
For more info, try www.norcalbats.org
Do not try to follow a single bat. You are not that fast.
Shotgun! Shoot a hundred pictures as fast as you can.
Shoot wide open at your fastest shutter speeds.
Do you know what kind of bats you are sheeting? Species, sex, age and migratory habits will help you research your subjects and find better ways to get good shots.
For more info, try www.norcalbats.org
May 16, 2012 04:28:33 #
oldmalky
Loc: West Midlands,England.
I attempted to photograph bats flying round our holiday hotel in Spain, I took many pics and they all came out as either blurs or i missed them altogether.
May 16, 2012 05:19:35 #
I've never done it but here are my thoughts.
Set up two speed lights. Low power for fast recycle time.
Use a small aperture and prefocus for a large depth of field.
When they fly, hit the shutter as fast as you can and the speedlights will allow.
Not having ever done it..that's what I'd try first.
Set up two speed lights. Low power for fast recycle time.
Use a small aperture and prefocus for a large depth of field.
When they fly, hit the shutter as fast as you can and the speedlights will allow.
Not having ever done it..that's what I'd try first.
May 16, 2012 12:39:15 #
rpavich wrote:
I've never done it but here are my thoughts.
Set up two speed lights. Low power for fast recycle time.
Use a small aperture and prefocus for a large depth of field.
When they fly, hit the shutter as fast as you can and the speedlights will allow.
Not having ever done it..that's what I'd try first.
Set up two speed lights. Low power for fast recycle time.
Use a small aperture and prefocus for a large depth of field.
When they fly, hit the shutter as fast as you can and the speedlights will allow.
Not having ever done it..that's what I'd try first.
Please use extreme caution when using flash around bats. The light may disorient them, but the big worry is the ultra high frequency sound of charging capacitors which has been known to compromise the bats' echo-location. Go ahead and try the speedlights, but if you notice any unusual behavior by the bats, particularly while the flash is charging after firing, stop immediately. Thank you
May 16, 2012 13:48:10 #
Bigdaver wrote:
use a couple remote flashes
Bill cautioned, but I will put it more strongly. It is UNETHICAL to use flash on wildlife at night. DO NOT use flash. Fill flash during the day is already questionable. Theresa it looks like you are in a position(as is everybody on this site) to be able to influence visitors to your park. As a steward of the land it is your responsibility to do the right thing and to educate others.
But to answer your question you would need the correct gear to photo bats at night. Possibly use a light set up with a light colored backdrop(or not)in an area where the bats are NOT forced to fly through it or affect their regular routines, and with the light to your back wait till the bats naturally fly between your set-up. Better yet in the early eve when there is still some light and using a fast lens( 85mm1.2 or 200mm1.8 come to mind and using a Canon 7d/1dMklV or similar other brand) with high ISO you can probably get very nice available light shots. Study similar photos on NPN and take note of settings and equipment used. It would not be that difficult to be successful.
Welcome to nature photography. It is not easy and it is not cheap.
May 16, 2012 14:14:23 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Bill cautioned, but I will put it more strongly. It is UNETHICAL to use flash on wildlife at night. DO NOT use flash. Fill flash during the day is already questionable.
Bigdaver wrote:
use a couple remote flashes
Bill cautioned, but I will put it more strongly. It is UNETHICAL to use flash on wildlife at night. DO NOT use flash. Fill flash during the day is already questionable.
I guess I don't understand what's unethical about using flash while photographing animals at night.
Can you explain?
May 16, 2012 14:45:22 #
rpavich wrote:
I guess I don't understand what's unethical about using flash while photographing animals at night.
Can you explain?
SharpShooter wrote:
Bill cautioned, but I will put it more strongly. It is UNETHICAL to use flash on wildlife at night. DO NOT use flash. Fill flash during the day is already questionable.
Bigdaver wrote:
use a couple remote flashes
Bill cautioned, but I will put it more strongly. It is UNETHICAL to use flash on wildlife at night. DO NOT use flash. Fill flash during the day is already questionable.
I guess I don't understand what's unethical about using flash while photographing animals at night.
Can you explain?
Most likely the flash could cause temporary blindness which could cause them to fly into each other or the side of a barn, or some other structure.
Wait till your eyes get adjusted to the dark then set off a flash, see what I mean?
May 16, 2012 15:15:09 #
May 16, 2012 15:57:03 #
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.