Nocturnal Wildlife Photography Tips | Tony Corry

Barking Owl, critically endangered with fewer than 50 breeding pairs left in Victoria due to habitat loss, secondary poisoning by consuming prey that has been poisoned by bating using pest control. Shutter speed 1/200, F2.8, ISO 4000

Nocturnal wildlife photography requires more than just the right equipment — it demands patience, respect for nature, and a deep understanding of animal behavior after dark. In this article, I’ll share techniques and ethical considerations that guide my approach when capturing nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat.

If you're aiming to photograph wildlife, especially at night, here are some key lessons and practical tips I learned along the way.

1. Ethics First: Protect What You Photograph

The first rule of wildlife photography should always be simple: Do not disturb or stress the animals.
One way to protect wildlife is by not sharing exact locations where photos are taken — especially for threatened or sensitive species. Revealing too much information, even unintentionally, can put animals at risk from disturbance or illegal activity.

Many responsible photographers choose to generalise or withhold location details when submitting images to public platforms. It's a small step that makes a big difference.

Other basics:

• Keep your distance.

• Move slowly and quietly.

• Know when to leave — no shot is worth causing stress to an animal.

Photographing wildlife isn't just about getting the image; it’s about being part of the ecosystem without tipping its balance.

2. Camera Traps: Let Nature Come to You

In my book While the World Sleeps, I used camera traps to capture genuine, undisturbed moments. Camera traps allow wildlife to move naturally without the pressure of a human presence.

Tips for using camera traps:

• Placement matters: Scout areas where you see tracks, burrows, or natural trails.

• Angle and height: Think from the animal’s perspective, not your own.

• Test shots: Always review and tweak your setup before leaving it overnight.

• Equipment: Camtraptions offer gear for camera trapping at https://www.camtraptions.com/

Using camera traps taught me patience — sometimes it takes days to get a single frame. But the authenticity you capture is worth every hour. Also try to place it in an area less likely for humans to find it, padlock it just to safe.

3. Lighting at Night: Balancing Impact and Image

The endangered Greater Glider, Australia's largest gliding mammal. These unique marsupials rely on Eucalyptus trees for both food and shelter. Thanks to targeted conservation efforts, some populations are managing to hold on. Taken using a LED torch, low shutter on a tripod, High ISO and wide aperture.

Lighting nocturnal wildlife presents a unique challenge. Throughout the project, I experimented with different methods to light scenes in a way that was both effective and respectful to the animals.

One technique that makes a big difference is using LED torches with red-light settings when searching at night. Red light is far less disturbing to animals than white light and causes fewer behavioral changes. When I locate an animal, I switch to red to minimize stress. Also the use of ambient light is also useful in capturing animals

Flash Photography:

• Used sparingly to freeze motion.

• Always at low intensity, often with diffusers.

• After spotting an animal, it's crucial to work quickly — take only a few photos, then move on to leave the animal undisturbed.

LED Lighting:

• Provides a constant, softer illumination.

• Animals can gradually adjust to the light.

• Downsides include higher battery consumption and the need to balance exposure carefully.

Pro tip: Editing carefully afterwards to remove red-eye artifacts ensures natural-looking results.

Tasmanian Pademelon. F/2.8, Shutter 2000, ISO 800

4. Mastering Manual Settings in the Dark

Nighttime photography forces you to take full control of your settings.

Key techniques:

• High ISO: Push it higher than you might expect — modern sensors handle noise well.

• Wide apertures: Let in as much light as possible without losing important depth of field.

• Slow shutter speeds: Combine them carefully with a time delay on your camera or stabilisation using a tripod.

• Pre-focus and lock: Autofocus systems struggle in low light, so focusing manually ahead of time can save critical seconds.

I also like to scout locations during daylight to pre-visualize compositions, making nighttime work much more efficient.

Brushtail Possums keep our ecosystem healthy as they often disperse seeds and pollinate plants across our landscape.

5. Moments in the Dark: Patience and Presence

Night offers moments you rarely witness during the day — animals behaving naturally, dramatic interactions, and fleeting glimpses of hidden lives.

Some of my most memorable sightings have been creatures taking surprising risks or parents providing for their young under the cover of darkness. It’s a world where patience is rewarded and sensitivity is key.

In nocturnal photography, less is often more. Sometimes the best decision is to simply observe and let the scene unfold.

Final Thoughts

Wildlife photography is an incredible privilege — it gives us a glimpse into lives that exist parallel to ours, often hidden in plain sight.
If you’re heading out into the wild with your camera, remember: every frame is an opportunity to not just document, but to protect.

And often, the best work happens while the world sleeps.

Flying foxes are crucial for the health of native forests as they act as key pollinators and seed dispersers. They help ensure the survival and regeneration of many plant species, including those important for food and shelter for other native animals like koalas. 

Link to my book down below: