Mad Aussie
03-13-2012, 07:56 PM
My recent thread http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f20/come-night-walk-me-17459.html created a few questions on how I achieve these photos at night so here's my setup.
Ignoring the camera and lens brand (although obvious in the photos) I prefer the 400mm.
A lot of flash penetration is needed when animals are 20 metres plus in the pitch dark so I use a strong external flash.
However, getting the camera to auto focus or even manually focusing is a task in the dark at these distances. As is just finding the subjects.
Some extra bright lighting is needed as well.
Here you can see I have a small LED light held to the lens tripod bracket (which I've swung around to the top) with some elastic band ... specifically, my daughters hair ties :) No lens hood as it creates a shadow on my subject.
1487814879
This light is an American made unit called the Joystick by Exposure Lights USA and puts out around 325 lumens for about 3 hrs on high. EXPOSURELIGHTSUSA.COM (http://www.exposurelightsusa.com/)
http://store.ibexsports.com/TinyMCE/thumbnail.ashx?src=%2Fcontent%2F179495%2F2012_Fron t_lights%2Fjoystick.jpg&size=250
This setup allows me to aim my camera and light up the subject well enough to get my focus and composition right before hitting the button and using the flash.
To find the subjects in the first place I use another bike light setup I have. This one is homemade and I've adapted it to take the elastic headband straps on smaller LED headlamps.
The difference is that it has 3x Cree S4 LED's that collectively put out about 500 lumens I think so it's a great spot light.
It's run off that small battery pack (3x AA batteries) on a belt clip and linked with a RCA Plugged cord setup with an on/off switch.
Elaborate and easily replaced with a strong, high quality headlamp for trekking/mining or just a very good spotlight.
14877
That's it! With both my wife and I with those headlamps on ... and that Exposure light for focus ... the wildlife has no chance! ;)
Ignoring the camera and lens brand (although obvious in the photos) I prefer the 400mm.
A lot of flash penetration is needed when animals are 20 metres plus in the pitch dark so I use a strong external flash.
However, getting the camera to auto focus or even manually focusing is a task in the dark at these distances. As is just finding the subjects.
Some extra bright lighting is needed as well.
Here you can see I have a small LED light held to the lens tripod bracket (which I've swung around to the top) with some elastic band ... specifically, my daughters hair ties :) No lens hood as it creates a shadow on my subject.
1487814879
This light is an American made unit called the Joystick by Exposure Lights USA and puts out around 325 lumens for about 3 hrs on high. EXPOSURELIGHTSUSA.COM (http://www.exposurelightsusa.com/)
http://store.ibexsports.com/TinyMCE/thumbnail.ashx?src=%2Fcontent%2F179495%2F2012_Fron t_lights%2Fjoystick.jpg&size=250
This setup allows me to aim my camera and light up the subject well enough to get my focus and composition right before hitting the button and using the flash.
To find the subjects in the first place I use another bike light setup I have. This one is homemade and I've adapted it to take the elastic headband straps on smaller LED headlamps.
The difference is that it has 3x Cree S4 LED's that collectively put out about 500 lumens I think so it's a great spot light.
It's run off that small battery pack (3x AA batteries) on a belt clip and linked with a RCA Plugged cord setup with an on/off switch.
Elaborate and easily replaced with a strong, high quality headlamp for trekking/mining or just a very good spotlight.
14877
That's it! With both my wife and I with those headlamps on ... and that Exposure light for focus ... the wildlife has no chance! ;)