Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · UKNP

Bat

Discussion

17 replies
Posted by Des Ong on October 16, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Not as good as Dale's of course but one of three I kept from a two (long!) night stint earlier this year in the desert. We set up by a watering hole with five speedlights - two firing from the front, one on each side, and one from the back giving the 'rim-light' effect.

The set up requires a fair bit of tweaking to get right. This shot is full frame (minus a bit through rotational adjustment) in 200mm, ISO400 at f16. Can't remember whether I used IR or manual with this one (we used a couple of different techniques). My ultimate aim was to catch it drinking. To that end I failed, but I think I came away wiser and of course it was great to be in the starlit desert sky in the company of bats!

Because of the size of the bat within the frame, It should be viewed LARGER.

Thanks for looking.

Des
Posted by Stephen Kaluski on October 16, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Irrespective Des, it's a cracking image, full stop. Nothing more to say!!! :toast: :toast: :toast:

TFS
Steve :wavey:

PS Well done on the award sir.
Posted by keith mitchell on October 16, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Des that really is great,worth all your effort.
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Keith.
Posted by Kim Connolly on October 16, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Stunning shot.
Posted by Dale Sutton on October 16, 2010 at 1:37 PM
Hi Des
Every bit as good as mine, a superb shot.
Great to meet up the other evening.
Superb shot of you and Nick Baker on your website, if I say so myself.

Dale :toast: :toast:
Posted by Simon Litten on October 16, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Now that's a shot! Superb :toast:


Simon
Posted by Geoffrey Baker on October 16, 2010 at 2:22 PM
Great work :smile:

Geoff.
Posted by Neil Burton on October 16, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Amazing, would not know where to start....simply brilliant.
Posted by Phil Shaw on October 16, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Great shot. If it was dark, how was focusing achieved?
Posted by Des Ong on October 16, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Hi Phil, we pre-focus with a torch :biggrin:
Posted by Austin Thomas on October 16, 2010 at 2:44 PM
Incredibly impressive Des and thanks for sharing the story as well.

Everything is right with this image.

Cheers

Austin
http://www.austin-thomas.co.uk
Posted by Bob Cox on October 16, 2010 at 4:25 PM
Obviously not a shot in the dark! Impressive.

Bob.
Posted by David Kjaer on October 17, 2010 at 5:52 AM
A cracker.

David :toast: :toast:
Posted by Paul Rosser on October 17, 2010 at 11:24 AM
A very impressive shot indeed. great work! :toast: :toast:
Paul Rosser. :wavey:
Posted by PhilH on October 17, 2010 at 4:27 PM
Nice..... don't suppose you have a species ID... the lighting has been particularly well executed...

:toast: :toast: :wavey: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Adam Seward on October 18, 2010 at 6:49 AM
That's extremely well done Des. And as Phil says, the lighting is excellent. Although its obviously taken with flash, it feels subtle, I think because its not against a black background. Enough light on the background to provide environmental context, but low enough that the bat stands out.
I like it a lot, and hope you can get the drinking shot one day.
:toast:
Posted by eric weight on October 18, 2010 at 11:00 AM
It's ok I suppose. :rolleyes:
A bit special that one Des.
:wavey: :toast: :toast:
eric
Posted by Tom_W on October 18, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Very effective and a excellent use of negative space.