Wildlife Night Shooting Setup

[Mad Aussie]

My recent thread http://www.photography.ca/Forums/f20...-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.



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


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.



That's it! With both my wife and I with those headlamps on ... and that Exposure light for focus ... the wildlife has no chance!

[Iguanasan]

Very cool!

[mbrager]

Excellent. I hadn't thought of using an LED flashlight for spotting. Of course with ETTL metering, the exposure would be set automatically and compensate for the ambient as well as the flash. Not to mention the light from your headsets. The well known brand sold here is PETZL I think. Thanks for posting this. I'll give it a try.

[Mad Aussie]

Excellent. I hadn't thought of using an LED flashlight for spotting. Of course with ETTL metering, the exposure would be set automatically and compensate for the ambient as well as the flash. Not to mention the light from your headsets. The well known brand sold here is PETZL I think. Thanks for posting this. I'll give it a try.

Works for me

Just make sure you are getting something with at least 300 lumens

[Marko]

Cool setup MA - Thanks for sharing it!

[Mad Aussie]

Cool setup MA - Thanks for sharing it!

You're welcome

[Marko]

wow 300+ dollars for a bike light! Biking accessories give photo ones a run for their money then.

[Mad Aussie]

wow 300+ dollars for a bike light! Biking accessories give photo ones a run for their money then.

Yeh that's nothing. The big HID lights etc can set you back a grand.

No need for that for this purpose those. Around $200 should buy you a very, very good and small LED torch that will do the job nicely.

[Mad Aussie]

Here's a great example in Aussie dollars ... Hi Performance Torches - Fenix TK35 - 820 lumens High Performance LED Torch - Led Torches Australia Pty Ltd - Free Delivery - Fenixlight - ThruNite - JetBeam - LED Lenser - Zebralight - Pila - LED Torch Shop Australia

Max of 800 lumens but selectable to 346 lumens (and others) for only AU$115