Photographing foxes

[LMC]

Hi,

I have a female fox that comes down for food at night, I have set up my camera on tripod & am using a cable release to take the photo, but it is still coming out blury, any tips on what setting to have it on etc

I have a Canon 450d camera & am using a Canon 55-250mm lense.

Thanks

LMC

[flake]

If are not using a flash then it's likely that the shutter speed is too low and you're getting motion blur. You need to state what settings you are using, it's a perenial problem on the forums of too little information to answer the question properly.

The information needed is the shutter speed, aperture, & Iso, whether you are using a flash is also important.

Light levels even during the day at this time of year are very low, our eyes compensate and this fools us into thinking it is brighter than it really is. On a day like today when it's very overcast it probably won't be possible to even take a photo at f/8 (Iso200) standard lens without using a tripod, so when what little light there is starts to fail you really do have a problem.

[LMC]

I have been using AV, ISO 400 F5. I don't use a flash as I thought it might scare them away & also would reflect off the window? I do have a light on the ground that illuminates the food & ground around.
Last night when I didn't have camera set up there was 2 foxes. 1 male & 1 female both showing teeth at each other, would have been a perfect shot. Try again tonight

LMC

Originally Posted by LMC

I have been using AV, ISO 400 F5. I don't use a flash as I thought it might scare them away & also would reflect off the window? I do have a light on the ground that illuminates the food & ground around.
Last night when I didn't have camera set up there was 2 foxes. 1 male & 1 female both showing teeth at each other, would have been a perfect shot. Try again tonight

LMC

If you are photographing through window glass it is hard to get a sharp image in good light

[flake]

And you still haven't said what shutter speed you're using

[cosmicma]

all i can suggest is set the camera up on a tripod outside rather than shooting through the window or through an open window with a cable release
set a stronger light up if you can but even a 500 watt bulb would barely be enough at night so flash would be a better option
it might get there attention for a second but it would be no different than lightning something most animals have encountered at some time in their life
the trouble with using on board flash is redeye ( or whatever the colour that foxes reflect ) and it's a harsh light unless you diffuse it in some way

iv'e no way of knowing what equipment is available to you but there would be a couple of ways of using flash that would give better results
if you have canon flash of some description defuse it with iether a dedicated defuser or somethig that will do even a piece of tissue is better than nothing

[LMC]

Sorry, shutter spead im using in 0"3 or 1/4. What do you suggest? What lense would u use? Im using a 55-250mm would a wide angle lense be best??

[browndog 2]

Originally Posted by LMC

Sorry, shutter spead im using in 0"3 or 1/4. What do you suggest? What lense would u use? Im using a 55-250mm would a wide angle lense be best??

Way to slow you need to be in the 1/80 to 1/250 range ....so you will also need more light

why don't you try an outside security light .....you also need to get the camera outside.

have a look at this

cheers

David

[LMC]

I did it, I took a photo last night & it is perfect, I took it from inside with a security light on, She is having cubs & is quite big, hope she brings cubs with her when they are born.
LMC

[LMC]

Click on my name & view my gallery, I've uploaded the photos i took