Badger ( + re-post)

I've been spending quite a lot of time watching some of the Badgers from a local sett recently and here's one of only two photos taken (well away from the sett I might add) in getting on for 50 hours of watching/waiting.

They're very nervy creatures and react to the slightest sound or movement.

Taken with Canon 7D, Canon 70-200L IS f/2.8 lens at f/8; 1/250th sec; ISO400 and using 580EXII and 430EX Canon Speedlites fired with ST-E2 Speedlite transmitter (as the red pre-flash on the ST-E2 doesn't disturb them, whereas the white pre-flash on the 7D's in-built transmitter does!).

I had to change the battery on the ST-E2 in total darkness/silence whilst a badger was less than 6 metres away from me - it pays to know your way around your kit, even in total darkness

and with thanks to Peter Cairns for his advice on badger photography in his 'Going wild' DVD

Brilliant image Jeff, I have only seen one once. The eye contact and being eye level really makes it for me, well worth the hours.


liam

Nice, good low level. Maybe another flash or two for the background?

Brilliant image!
Paul.

Thanks for the feedback guys - much appreciated

"Maybe another flash or two for the background?" - thanks for your observation Andrew but personally I don't think so. I spent a lot of time setting up the lighting so as to get it right (ie. with a dark distant background) and to keep the image in context - it is, after all, a nocturnal creature photographed as it goes about its business in the dead of night (nearly 1am in fact) and I wanted the image to reflect that

Hi Jeff

I think you've got the lighting just about right - there is still a night-time feel due to the dark BG. The bottom left corner is a little distracting but the comp is right for the image. Nice work.
Cheers,
Chris

Spot on Jeff,
good feeling to be rewarded for patience.

Bertl

Nice one Jeff.
Iinteresting about the flashes too. The badgers I did in the garden here weren't bothered in the slightest by two mecablitz 402,s, and a 600watt MV bulb 5 foot above !
Good stuff.
JohnR

No wonder they are nervous with the threat of culling always present. No matter what the rights or wrongs the world would be a much poorer place without them, IMO.

Lighting spot on for me, but I agree about the LHC. A bit off the bottom of the frame, perhaps?

Lovely image, looking forward to more.

T

Very nice Jeff, I echo Chris' comments. I hope to be working on these in the coming months.

Des

your dedication has paid off , a fine flash image .I agree with Chris bottom left OOF is pulling the eye.

I miss these guys, Very nice image-well lit

Dave

A very minor nit re bottom LHC but a great image. I also like the lighting.

All been said. A great image and I look forward to more.

David

I agree about the oof area but would still like to see more space on the left rather than the right. Still a good picture of a much maligned beast. Welsh Assembly is about to decimate the population in North Pembs as a 'trial'. A totally stupid and pointless excercise as they are also introducing other anti TB measures at the same time which means they will never know which measures are effective. Blind stupidity just to appease farmers (for whom I do have a great deal of sympathy incidentally).

Brillant Badger image,I have been trying at a site local to me,but they come out really late,so when the clocks go back I hope! Love the low POV here,the composition is spot on with the right amount of light used I am not keen on flash with wildlife as I feel their eyes are like ours which are very sensitive to bright light and as humans we don't really know of the impact this has on wildlife,I like the way you have explained how you used flash Jeff in this image,with a caring approach Looking forward to seeing more,if I don't beat you first with my 'late' risers

NIce image Jeff,

not much more to add as its all been said before me

Thanks for all the further comments folks - much appreciated

I've taken on board Chris's point about the distracting bottom LHC and, as David T suggested, have trimmed a bit off the bottom edge in the re-post - any better?

John - I know that some (perhaps more 'street-wise') badgers will tolerate white floodlighting and flashes but these guys are in a very rural area and not used to lighting at all, though I'm told (and am hopeful) that they will eventually get more used to it

and good luck with yours Craig - my local ones are very unpredictable and come out anytime between about 7.30 and 9.30pm at the moment but are certainly at their most active in the early hours, when all sensible folk are tucked up in bed

Great badger shot reminds me of the summer I spent hundreds of nights photographing these super animals. I hope to be spending as much time again this year. Nice night feel

Paul

one of the best badger shots I have seen lovely shot

Lovely image.
Rene de Heer

Paul, Karen & Rene - Thanks for your kind words - much appreciated