Page 88 - World of Animals - Issue #31

Wildlife photography

Photograph nocturnal

animals with ease

With the help of professional photographer Connor Stefanison,
we give you the best tips for night-time shooting

The perfect settings
Keep stable
Focus in the dark

Tip 1
Be prepared

Do your research and make sure you
have the right equipment to hand
The most fundamental trick to getting good shots
of nocturnal animals isn’t actually anything to do
with your camera; it’s about doing your research
and being prepared. Find out about your chosen
animal’s habits. For instance, if photographing
badgers, visit their sett a few times and observe

their routines to find out which exit paths they
use, so you know where to set up. We spoke
to pro wildlife photographer Connor Stefanison
(www.connorstefanison.com) about his advice
on preparation: “The best thing to do to prepare
for a night shoot is to first visit the location during

daylight. It’s important to see any obstacles when
it’s light out, and it also makes it easier to find

potential compositions. Sometimes I’ll try to use

Google Earth to find out where I can go to avoid
light pollution from nearby cities.”
Make sure you have a torch so that you can see
your settings and are able to spot uneven ground
as you walk. Remember to pack outdoor clothing
with pockets to keep you warm and give you
quick access to your accessories.

A torch or headlamp is a
must-have accessory to
help you see what you’re
doing in the dark

Research the animal’s
usual behaviour to help you
capture this on camera

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