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Photographing wildlife at night is tough, but there's a formula I've found that works incredibly well. It produces high quality, even low ISO, inspiring images of rarely seen animals we may encounter on wildlife photo adventures.

In this episode I also go over the tools and specific camera settings, along with lessons and techniques from over 20 years on this topic for how to capture stunning nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitat.

Sponsors & Promo Code:

LensRentals.com - WildPhotographer15 for 15% off
ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
Arthelper.Ai - WILD for 30 day free trial of Pro Version

Takeaways

• Nighttime wildlife photography is challenging due to low light.
• A good flashlight is essential for illuminating subjects. No flash--too harsh!
• Using a headlamp helps in adjusting camera settings in the dark.
• Spotting wildlife at night can be easier with a guide.
• Any camera can work, but DSLRs or mirrorless are preferred.
• Fast lenses are not always necessary for nighttime wildlife photography.
• Manual plus auto ISO is a great setting for low light.
• Underexposing the shot helps capture the essence of night.
• Editing can enhance the darkness around the subject.
• Macro photography can be done without a dedicated macro lens.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Night Wildlife Photography
04:38 Essential Tools for Night Photography
09:21 Camera and Lens Considerations
12:12 Camera Settings for Low Light
18:17 Techniques for Capturing Wildlife
23:01 Editing Night Wildlife Photos
26:55 Wild Card Tips for Night Photography

• Check out Court’s photography and conservation work: CourtWhelan.com
• Follow Court Whelan (@courtwhelan) on YouTube for more photography tips
• Sign up for Court's conservation, travel and photography blog at www.courtwhelan.com
• View Court's recommended camera gear
• Promo Codes:
  LensRentals.com - WildPhotographer15 for 15% off
  ShimodaDesigns.com - Whelan10 for 10% off
  Arthelper.Ai - WILD for 30 day free trial of Pro Version