shooting wild animals at night - DPChallenge Forums

11/01/2007 03:42:05 AM · #1

ok, i wanna take a shot of a fox at night... any ideas..

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/01/2007 05:21:37 AM · #2

first, take your camera and be prepared to wait wait wait somewhere dark and out the way. Go near it's food source (or put some down yourself). Take the fastest lens you can find with a decent zoom, shoot on high ISO and download the free version of Neat Image.

If you have a 70-200 f2.8 IS i think you'll be alright.

11/01/2007 05:30:04 AM · #3

unfortunately i don't have a fast telephoto.. and even if i did. i think it will be too dark for an f/2.8

Tez

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/01/2007 06:50:22 AM · #4

okie doke... well 1 2.8 is faster than a 5.6 by a loooong way.

Thing is, I don't think you could use any flash as that would just scare them so unless you have the perfect composition and the perfect flash exposure/angle so that you can get the shot in one go, this isn't really an option. And I wouldn't use the on camera flash, it stinks (as does most flash when done directly).

How about the 50mm 1.8? That might just be ok if you can get close enough... thing is, they'll smell you before they see you so you'll need to be quite far from them- hence the telephoto idea. I'd take your Sigma, a tripod, and see what happens. You never know.

Also, be careful of the white balance too if you're shooting in street lights. It's rather orange where I am.

Good luck.

twilson944

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

11/01/2007 08:52:07 AM · #5

I tried this spring to capture one on my folks' property. I went out before dawn, trying to capture them in early morning light (yes, I know they're nocturnal). My first venture out, I walked to a spot about 30 yards downwind from their den, where the rising sun would be behind me, set up the tripod, and waited. About 45 min. in, I saw movement. Sure enough, the male had come out of the den, and was moving down his trail. In my ignorance, I had walked across his trail, and he picked up my scent and started to follow it, right towards me. I swung the camera around as quickly and quietly as I could, and held the shutter down when he was about 15 feet from me. I got 4 captures, the last two are of him turning and bolting. Alas, he was in the shade, and my shutter was 1/4 sec., so none of the pictures were usable.

My advice would be to scope out the area as much as you can, to get an idea about their habits. Look for their trails, then avoid them. Stay downwind. Always. Even if it means a longer walk. I don't know if foxes would take food you set out. You could try. I also don't think they have a food source per se. I think they have hunting areas (for moles, voles, mice, birds, rabbits, etc.). That might be a good place to sit also. Capture them as they're stalking, or before they pounce.
The first few times I went out, I thought "I'm going to get these GREAT captures." Well, after those first few times, I calmed down, and realized that even if I didn't get any pictures, it was an honor just to see the fox. I nothing else, I'd recommend going out just to enjoy nature, and if you happen to get any pictures, then those are just icing on the cake.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/02/2007 10:13:32 AM · #6

thanks Tez, twilson ... valuable tips.. i didnt know they'd pick up my scent.. can i mask it somehow ? ... and twilson, do they make an appearance early in the morning ? how early? was there light at all.. that would be way better than street light because even if i adjust the white balance, those street lights i beleive are monochromatic in nature and i won't be able to capture a picture of the fox in his natural colors..
i've seen one and it was reaalllly cool because where i live, there arent much of wild life. it was really exciting. it would ineed be fun to just witnes one...
can you post those pictures you took ( however unusable they are )...

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

11/02/2007 10:22:12 AM · #7

Originally posted by rami:

.. i didnt know they'd pick up my scent.. can i mask it somehow ? ...

Go to any sporting goods store in your area that sells hunting equipment. You can purchase pads to put on your boots and various scents that you apply to the pads (skunk, doe urine, etc...). Sounds gross, but it works (used to be a deer hunter a long, long time ago).

Good luck! :-)

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/02/2007 11:21:21 AM · #8

Handy article and gadget. ;-)

twilson944

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

11/02/2007 01:42:36 PM · #9

Originally posted by rami:

do they make an appearance early in the morning ? how early? was there light at all.. that would be way better than street light because even if i adjust the white balance, those street lights i beleive are monochromatic in nature and i won't be able to capture a picture of the fox in his natural colors..
i've seen one and it was reaalllly cool because where i live, there arent much of wild life. it was really exciting. it would ineed be fun to just witnes one...
can you post those pictures you took ( however unusable they are )...

The three times I actually saw the fox, it was after dawn. I set up about 45 min. before sunrise. The first time (the one I photographed) was about 30 min. after sunrise, at 6:30, this spring. With the camera pointed at the den with ISO 400 & f8, my shutter speed was around 1/125. The captures I made were, unfortunately, in deep shade, hence the 1/4 sec. shutter. I don't know why the fox was out that first time.
The second time was again about 30 min. after sunrise. I set up in a poor location, and wasn't able to take any shots, as it was again in deep shade, and trotting back to the den. It had been out hunting, and was probably making its last trip back with a small rodent. From what I've read, I probably was seeing the male. The female stays in the den with the kits, and the male brings back food, and actually, isn't allowed in the den with them. My dad and I found three other dens in the vicinity of the first one. Bachelor pads, we assume.
The third time, I think I saw the female. I was walking out to set up a little late, and I happened to see movement in the tall grass near the entrance. I froze, camera around my neck, and the tripod in my hand, and stared back at the two eyes watching me through the grass. We stared at each other for 2 or 3 minutes, then she(?) disappeared in a non-alarmed fashion. I figured she wouldn't come out again, but I set up anyway, and I was right. That was it.
I can't post pics here, as I'm not a paying member, (unless I'm missing something) but I can PM or email them if you'd like.

Tim

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

11/02/2007 01:47:36 PM · #10

Originally posted by scalvert:

Handy article and gadget. ;-)

I have the timemachine and it is a heck of a tool (toy?), but haven't used it for an application like this just time-laspse and water drops, etc. Problem is the sensors needed can be almost as expensive as the machine itself.

If you want to see some really cool images of night wildlife check out Gallen Rowell's book "Bay Area Wild" although the night time wildlife shots were by another photographer, not Rowell (his name esapes me now and my book is home).

fotomann_forever

11/02/2007 01:47:37 PM · #11

I'd recommend a shotgun over a rifle. You might not get the range, but the spread should make hitting the target easier at night.

Seriously, your current lens lineup is a bit limited for this type of shooting. You have one fast lens, the 50mm 1.8, but unfortunately it's not all that long and the AF on it sucks in low light.

You'll probably have better luck at dusk/dawn.

11/02/2007 07:58:00 PM · #12

twilson, i'd appreciate it if you PM or email them to me... i will also pm you with my email address..

how do you identify their den ?

twilson944

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

11/02/2007 08:58:19 PM · #13

Originally posted by rami:

twilson, i'd appreciate it if you PM or email them to me... i will also pm you with my email address..

how do you identify their den ?

Not to be flippant, but it's a hole. :)

Actually, there were two holes, about 12-14 inches in diameter, with the dirt from them just outside them. They were dug in the sides of dirt piles, vs. down into the ground. I can only assume that's typical of red foxes, as all the dens we found were similarly constructed. The main den had two trails coming from it, one main, one secondary. There was also a depression on top of the dirt pile strewn with rodent parts, etc. I don't recall the exact purpose, but it's a typical occurrence, according to a couple websites I found that discussed habits. Do some google searches to see what you can find describing typical habits and occurrences, then utilize that in your own observations of your foxes.