A Light Touch: Reflections on using additional light when photographing wildlife

1a: Aranzamendim, H., ‘Stressed penguins’. Penguins International (January 15, 2019). https://www.pinguïnsinternational.org/2019/01/15/stressed-pinguïns/
2: Ellenberg, U. (2017). Impacts of Penguin Tourism in DT Blumstein et al., editors. The promise and peril of ecotourism: a biological assessment. New York, USA: Springer International. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-58331-0_8
3: Machovsky-Capuska, GE et al. ‘Visual accommodation and active underwater prey hunting in a diving bird: the Australasian gannet’. Proc. R. Soc. B.279 4118–4125 http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1519
4: Kruuk, H. (1993). ‘The diving behavior of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in waters of different trophic status’. Journal of Applied Ecology, 30 (4), 592-598. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2404239?seq=1
5: Spoelstra, K. et al. (2017), ‘Response of bats to light with different spectra: the light-shy and agile presence of bats is influenced by white and green, but not by red light’. Proc. R. Soc. B.28420170075, http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.0075
6: De Brauwer, M., et al. (2019) Behavioral and pathomorphological effects of flash photography on benthic fish. Sci Rep 9, 748. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-37356-2
7: Wegge, P. et al, (2004). ‘Effects of capture effort and trap shyness on estimates of tiger abundance from camera trap surveys. Animation Conserv., 7, 251-256. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1367943004001441 .
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Additional: Henrich, M. et al F. and Heurich, M. (2020). ‘The influence of the flash type of the camera trap on the behavioral responses and capture rate of red deer and roe deer’. Remote Sens Ecol Conserv., 6: 399-410. https://doi.org/10.1002/rse2.150

About the Author: Doug Gimesy is a professional wildlife, conservation and animal welfare photojournalist with a focus on Australian issues. His clients include publications such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, bioGraphic, Australian Geographic and newspapers such as The Guardian.

Doug initially completed a B.Sc. specialized in zoology and microbiology, and later completed a Masters of Environment, a Masters of Bioethics and a Diploma of Education. Doug’s recent work believes in the importance of tackling local issues and focuses on documenting the impact of the Australian bushfires, as well as the conservation and animal welfare challenges faced by iconic Australian species such as the platypus and the grey-headed flying fox.

In 2020, Doug and his partner Heather launched their first children’s book, “Life Upside Down”, a 48-page exploration of Australia’s remarkable grey-headed flying foxes. Doug’s ambition is that the images he captures and the information he shares will inspire people to pause, reflect and embrace a more compassionate approach to the world around them. See more of Doug’s work here.