Does anyone have any experience photographing animals at night?

[Davros]

Hi all
Will shortly be visiting the nocturnal tour of the Singapore zoo and i want to take some good photographs of the wildlife under night conditions. A
Does anyone have any advice to offer re flash use, ISO settings, shutter speed etc.
I want to get it right the first time as i imagine my opportunities will be brief.

[jjjnettie]

Here's a link for you Mick. :)
http://www.photomigrations.com/articles/0406100.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_5895303_pictures-wildlife-night.html

[gregbradley]

Fast lenses F1.4 or F1.2. F1.8 lenses are often fairly cheap especially 50mm.

High ISO - ISO3200+ depending on your camera's performance in high ISO.

Greg.

[barx1963]

Mick
I had a lot of difficulty getting decent shots there. When you go you can walk around or take the shuttles. The shuttles don't stop for long so give yourself plenty of time and walking is probably the best bet if you are wanting to take shots. The lighting is very dim, so be prepared for that, a tripod would be essential and the fastest lense you have.
Also be prepared for the humidity, although it is cooler than during the day, you will work up a sweat walking around. Also the crowds are something to behold. This is one of Singapores premier tourist attractions and there will be thousands there.

Malcolm

[Davros]

Awesome, thanks for the info all. I will give it my best shot and let you know the results.

[Ninox.strenua]

Hi
For future reference, at night it's best to shoot fully manual with the flash controlling the exposure. Then you can use any aperture to get the desired depth of field of an animal subject and vary flash output to get the best possible exposure. It is quite easy once the idea is grasped. I often photograph wild animals at night, eg owls, nightjards, possums and gliders and my base exposure in manual mode is ISO400, f/8, 1/125th, with flash exposure comp set to around 0 to +1 or so, but I vary it depending on subject distance from me. Don't know if this is too late, but hopefully it's some useful info if anyone wants to "dabble" in some nocturnal wildlife photography. The biggest challenge is to find the subjects. Once found, they are illuminated by a torch. You can get amazing nocturnal animal images if you practice a little.

[multiweb]

I'd be too scared. First time I heard a possum in the dark by myself at the house not knowing what it was I nearly s||t myself. The bugger was on the ground right next to me, about a metre. Taught him some French... :scared:

[Osirisra]

I shoot nocturnal macro critters at night using a ring led flash/light on my macro setup. The ring light is nice and bright and I use it like a torch which allows me to see and then light up my subject to focus etc.

Took these a few nights ago in the middle of the night.

[Joshua Bunn]

Ken,
Thats impressive. I could imagine the little critters getting the shock of their life when that rig goes off...haha:D

[Osirisra]

That Joshua.

Yeah they don't seem to move much when it goes off, might have something to do with them being blinded! :)

How's my old home town Albany doing these days?

[Joshua Bunn]

Good place to be, but too cloudy right now. clouds just aint going away. fingers crossed for the weekend.

[Osirisra]

Yup good ol Albany cloud n rain magnet, don't get to many clear skies but when it does it is very clear!

I have been having the same problem up here, nothing but clouds for months :(

[Joshua Bunn]

what direction are you from Albany?

[Osirisra]

Up Geraldton Way

[Ninox.strenua]

Great macro pix Ken! :)

[Nikolas]

Just a note you can't use flash photography in nocturnal zoo exhibits

[alpal]

Hi Lauren,
It can be best to use an infrared flash -

http://www.trailcampro.com/incandescentvsinfrared-apracticalcomparisonofgamecameras.a spx

and

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/visions/field-test/nichols-serengeti/infrared-sensors

[gregbradley]

A fast lens - F1.4 and a camera that handles ISO6400/12,800 cleanly would be the go.

Canon 6D would be one, Nikon DF/D4 another. I won't be cheap.

Greg.