Low light is taken here as being the level of light experienced on a moonlight night that allows wildlife photography without the need for artificial lighting.
When photographing wildlife at night there is no way of finding out directly how animals are going to react to your presence and especially lights and flashes. The animals which will often be extra timid nocturnal ones unused to man might be scared away. Being spooked they might react suddenly or even attack which if you are photographing ants is not a problem. However, something larger might shock you into damaging something or possibly physically attack you.
Similar Articles you may like to read –
Wildlife photography camera setting for long distance objects
Do wildlife photographers use filters?
Do wildlife photographers use flash?
How many FPS do you need for wildlife photography?
What’s the Aim
You should be really clear with yourself whether you are really going to get benefit from this very different and complicated undertaking. Presumably, you have already done a lot of daylight wildlife photography and even dusk and dawn shoots where you will catch some of the nocturnal animals.
Although you may get the opportunity to photograph nocturnal animals that you would never be able to otherwise, what you are going to capture in terms of high-quality photographs is going to be less than you are used to. Be clear if you are doing it for the challenge, to photograph the particular nocturnal animals, or just for a change. Then weigh up whether it’s worth the effort because it’s probably going to be your most difficult and unproductive shoot.
Preparation
So go about shooting at night carefully and accept that you will need to prepare well, get in place early and be very patient as you wait for your shot.
If you are lucky enough to be shooting in a game reserve, you should get the help you need from the rangers or a local guide rather than trying to set it up yourself.
Case the Area
Before you start spend lots of time during the day at the place where you plan to shoot. Speak to the local residents and make sure they are happy with your plans. See if they have information about the local wildlife and their habits.
Get to know the layout and the surroundings. Look for places where animals might move around.
Meet The Neighbours
There is an opportunity for misunderstanding when people wake in the middle of the night to see lights moving around in the woods or the surroundings.
Don’t become a nuisance and don’t affect the wildlife of the area by spending too much time in the same place.
Study the Animals
Collect as much information as you can on the animal you are aiming to photograph as well as on whatever animals there are around.
Find a place where you can expect the animals to visit regularly, maybe a drinking spot or the entrance to a lair or burrow and plan to shoot there.
Investigate how the animals react to light by trying out a gentle searchlight, torches, and laser pointers.
Photographic Equipment
You will need the following
- A camera that can shoot in manual mode. If you have a choice select your camera with the best low-light capabilities and fast lenses.
- A tripod to allow you to take long exposures
- Remote or cable release
- Extra memory cards and batteries
- A cellular phone or tablet to allow you to download and view what you have photographed
- A flashlight to find your way around and to light the scene if appropriate
- Don’t forget your comforts – chair, blanket, coffee, snacks, etc
Set up Your “Shooting Field”
Because focus is a problem in the dark you should set up aids to manual focusing in the dark, such as measuring the distances to recognizable points around the shooting area, calibrating the distance meter in the camera for the lens you are using, bracket your shots and use a laser pointer to give a focus point for the camera while not scarring the animal.
Alternative – Infrared Photography
When we think infrared photography we tend to think of landscapes with outlandish colors or orange figures on a dark background like night vision glasses. infra-red
However, a DSLR can be used with an infrared filter to take black-and-white photographs in the dark illuminated by floodlights or flashes fitted with filters that block viable light illuminating the subject with infrared light which is invisible to humans and most animals.
Some DSLRs can be used as is while others need to have a built-in infrared filter removed. The downside of shooting with infrared and a DSLR is that the camera sensor is not very sensitive to infrared so long exposures are needed unless an infrared flash is used.
More articles you may like to read –
Should I use auto ISO for wildlife photography?
Should I use aperture priority for wildlife photography?
Bird Photography Settings For Camera To Capture Best Shots
How To Do Little Bird Photography? Capture The Best Shots
The Shoot
Since you are always not going to have enough light don’t go shooting around the new moon so wait for the full moon and a clear night.
Go to the area while it’s still light so that you can settle in comfortably and set up your equipment. Confirm the markers, positions, and distances you had set up earlier.
Set your camera to manual, the minimum speed you are prepared to use for the animal you are photographing, and set the ISO to the necessary level which will hopefully be acceptable in terms of noise otherwise you will need to use post-processing. With a good clear night, you will need an exposure like ISO 51 200 at f1.4 to get a shutter speed of 1/60 s.
As the light fades continue taking shots of the spot where you hope to photograph the animal. Examine them and see how your assumptions appear and correct them if necessary.
When the animal arrives you will have the information necessary to use the right technique depending on the animal’s response to light and noise.
Of course, everything is against you! maybe this is like masochism! Because your aperture is maxed out your depth of field is small so an error in focus is more likely. Because you still need a long exposure, movement of the animal is a problem but at least a tripod is a steady tool. Because your ISO is maxed out you have to worry about grain…