With lessons learned from the previous set-up, it was now time to seek out another location, and as luck would have it I found one less than a hundred metres away! It was a really attractive setting topped off with a lush fern and the path which ran beneath the branches looked as though it was used regularly. And so, as before, a trail-camera was placed overlooking the path and when I returned a week later I couldn't believe the 'traffic' with both adults and cubs using it on a nightly basis.
July 29th 2019
I decided, in the beginning, to keep things simple with a key light (above and left) and fill (right) and go from there. Importantly, I also wanted to see how the badgers would react to the equipment and flashes and in those first few weeks I would set up a trail-camera overlooking the site. The news was good - they didn't seem bothered at all and continued with their night-time wanderings. This helps, enormously, with camera-trap work since every 3-5 days (and being reasonably confident of 'hits') I was able to tweak equipment and settings accordingly.
The camera was housed in the brilliant Camtraptions Weather Sealed Camera Housing
which was padlocked and secured to a nearby tree using a length of stainless steel security cable. Also, as you can see, I have written my name and website address on the rear so that should someone stumble upon it they can look me up and be assured that my intentions are genuine.
Now, if someone REALLY wanted the camera they could go and fetch cutters but knowing the wood as I do and its remoteness meant that the only people I ever see in there are ramblers and genuine 'nature' people who, as a whole, are good and decent. Ultimately, it's merely to act as a deterrent and will keep honest folk, honest. To this day (touch wood) I haven't had anything stolen or tampered with.
Just one hour after my departure a squirrel came down to investigate. Here we go again!
July 30th @ 03.20
Nikon D3200, 18-55mm @ 18mm, ISO 400, 1/125 sec. f/11
Confident that the badgers were only using the path at night there wasn't any need to increase ISO, open aperture or extend the exposure to bring in ambient light.
July 30th @ 21.58
Of course, they were bound to be using the path in both directions!
July 31st @ 02.09
Just two days later and my first 'successful' image.
However, it still left a lot to be desired as the lighting was far too crude and needed adjusting. I re-positioned the fill-light (on the right) further around so that it was now 90 degrees to the camera and increased its output to produce a hard side-light. My original key-light's output (above and left) was reduced by around 2 stops. I used simple cardboard snoots on each flash (Nikon SB28) to control spill and diffusers to soften the light. To trigger the units and camera I use Wireless Triggers and a Wireless PIR Motion Sensor V2 made by Camtraptions. At first, the sensor seems quite complicated but you soon get the hang of it and you'll find, like me, that once you have it set up you'll more than likely keep it on those settings for the majority of situations. It's a very versatile piece of kit and will last months on a single batch of batteries. Plus, Matt of Camtraptions is extremely helpful (not to mention patient) with answering any questions.
Woodlands in summer are humid environments, and one issue I encountered, from time to time, was condensation forming on the glass. There's not a great deal that can be done about this but I did find that keeping several packets of silica gel within the housing helped a little. It's just one of those things and at other times of the year, it's not an issue.
August 19th @ 22.33
This is the image I am most pleased with since it is neither looking at the camera nor has its snout buried in the leaves!
