Bat

Great and perfect timing

Possibly the best of the group.

Well taken! How do you do this?

Regards
David

Thanks, Giulio, Larry & David.

It's been quite a long haul but I must admit to being quite pleased with this one!

I've strung a few thoughts together, David, to help anyone thinking of trying bat imaging on a budget / existing equipment, as I have.

I'd be very pleased to see any images produced!




I don’t profess to be anything of an expert in bat photography but am happy to pass on my experiences, problems encountered & possible solutions I’ve happened across.

The difficulties involved with capturing images of these wonderful creatures fall into several categories:

1). Get an image in the viewfinder & capture it.
Bats are elusive, in the respect of their relatively small size & rapid, unpredictable flight patterns. I’ve found the 18-55 standard (“kit”) zoom useful, used at the wider end.
Anything above 35mm odd makes gathering images just too difficult due the bats’ behaviour.
No matter how well focussed or exposed the shot may be, if it’s not on the sensor, it’s , well, not very good…..!



2). Bats are, generally, nocturnal! Use flash!
I started capturing bats with my K7 with the built-in flash, moved on with an AF200T & now use a K5 with AF240FT.
These are not my specific “bat-kit”, it’s what I use for my photography generally. Within reason, any camera + any flash will do! Probably a more powerful unit would give more flexibility, but see notes on exposure, below.
The problem with any flash is the problem with the exposure / distance thingy!
The flash/subject (bat) distance is unpredictable! As is, therefore, the exposure. I use the AF240FT on manual/low & set to the ISO to match the camera setting, either 800 or 1600. This seems flexible enough to cover bats near enough to get a reasonable image once cropped on PP & short enough to freeze movement.


3). Focus on the eyes!
Yeah, right……!

Where I look at bats, the flight path has a degree of predictability, but without getting to within 6-10ft., I don’t find image capture, exposure or focus is possible. I pre-set the focus at just over 7ft., in manual & leave it there. I don't look through the viewfinder. With such rapid movement & in (usually) failing light levels, it's impossible to keep up. I just hold the camera up to eye-level, using both eyes open & just point the camera at the bat, panning as & when necessary.

The trick is, to get to know your own patch, observe where the bats are, how they behave & establish their pattern of behaviour into which you can fit yourself & your photography. They, after all, were there first. We’re only there for 1/60th of a second or so!

Always have a care for the bats & never disturb them near their roosts.


Get out & have a go!

If there’s anything I’ve not made clear, please pm me & I’ll do my best to help.


Roger.


P.S.

I forgot.
Don't forget to get a very big bucket......
You'll need it to carry all that luck you'll need!

Wow! I really appreciate the explanation, thanks.

You're most welcome, Caj.

Roger.

If that's the standard now - keep 'em coming!

Thanks, Paul, for your encouraging remarks throughout my journey to get to this standard!

Roger.

Wow,and I like this better