How to shoot...

[Ricco]

Driving on memorial, I saw a huge plume of bats and wished I could have pulled over for a shot. But this brought up a question on HOW to shoot such a spectacle. Being dusk, it would be hard to shoot something that is moving so fast.

Pump up the ISO and get a faster lens?

[Photogdude]

that would be the waugh bat bridge, they're always there when the temp is ok. but you answered your own question.

[Ricco]

Originally Posted by Photogdude

that would be the waugh bat bridge, they're always there when the temp is ok. but you answered your own question.

I might have answered my own question, but I haven't been able to capture a decent shot, and yes, I was referring to the waugh bridge.

I guess no one has their own samples of the night flights.

[kenw]

If you can't get the shutter up around 1/500, I'm thinking a faster lens is a must. Even 1/500 shutter is going to have some blur on a subject like this, but if you can't get 1/500you sure aren't going to get 1/1000! (btw, I would go shutter priority on this).

other than what you mention, I would recommend that you position yourself to avoid backlighting. ...but no samples here either.

[Patti Edens]

Originally Posted by Ricco

... I guess no one has their own samples of the night flights.

I have a few - not so great, but maybe you can get some ideas. A faster lens would have been nice.


The first three were shot in 2009 and the last one in 2010. There were not nearly as many bats emerging in 2010 and they came out a lot later. It is the luck of the draw on when they come out.



This is an HDR - I shot the foreground in a separate photo and blended it with the sky shot. The EXIF info is for the sky shot.



And I tried a few at slow shutter speeds for some bat blurs. I didn't much like them, but what the heck...


And as you can see, much more difficult shooting in 2010 because there just were not many bats. This is the Canon 50D with kit lens, f5.6, 1/200, 26mm, ISO 2000.

[Ricco]

I've been looking on google for images and few seemed like it was any good.
I got a nice 2.8 (thanks TC!) that I guess I should give a try from different angles before the weather turns to total crap.

I'd love to catch some of the long trails that I've been seeing as of late.

[Photogdude]

Originally Posted by Ricco

I've been looking on google for images and few seemed like it was any good.
I got a nice 2.8 (thanks TC!) that I guess I should give a try from different angles before the weather turns to total crap.

I'd love to catch some of the long trails that I've been seeing as of late.

the weather's been crap since may!

What 2.8 lens?

I would actually shoot with as much back lighting as possible, that way you can get some nice silhouettes

there's pretty much no way to get those bats shot like a bird in flight, unless your up close and personal with a flash. But the flash screws up the bats radar or something so thats up too you.

[TheFantasticG]

Off topic: how does a flash fark up the bats sonar?

On topic: a f1.4 lens and ISO1600-6400 sound like they are needed to attain the shutter speeds you're looking for.

[Photogdude]

not sure about the sonar thing, i just remember reading it on the sign thats there

[TheFantasticG]

I suppose the high pitched whine of a charging capacitor might be it...

[Flores]

flashes do not bother bats or mess with their echo location.

bat photography and photo tours and workshops

cool pointers....