I have been working on this image for about 6 months now. Nearly all of that time was spent attracting the squirrels, and then subsequently training them to go where I would be able to photograph them. Flying squirrels are incredibly shy, mostly nocturnal, and lightning-fast, so getting them comfortable enough to appear consistently — let alone in a specific spot — was a challenge in itself.
It became a slow, patient process of observation and routine-building. I spent many evenings watching them from a distance, learning their patterns, their preferred travel routes, and the times of night they were most active. Gradually, they began to trust the setup, returning more frequently and lingering just long enough for me to experiment with the lighting and triggering system.
This has been a fun and challenging project, and this image is from the very first night I spent actually photographing them after months of preparation. Seeing the plan finally come together — the squirrel in the right position, the flashes firing perfectly, everything synced in the dark — was incredibly rewarding. And now that they’ve fully accepted the setup, I’m excited to push this further and explore more creative compositions.
Much more to come…
Good Luck and Good Light!
Steve
Image: Northern Flying Squirrel, Brighton, MI
Gear: Nikon D4S, 200–400mm zoom, 1/250th @ f/19, ISO 320
Lighting: 4 high-speed flashes
Triggering: Cognisys Sabre trigger system
Related: Flying Squirrels Pictures Created with High Speed Flash