Traer Scott’s Creatures of the Night

A photographer captures dozens of nocturnal animals using not much more than a DSLR, a hot-shoe flash, and a DIY cardboard studio

| Published Dec 16, 2014 2:51 AM EST

Traer Scott caught the slow-moving animal with her Nikon D800 with 24–70mm f/2.8G Nikon ED AF-S lens at 24mm, 1/60 sec at f/11, ISO 400.

Eastern Screech Owl

A black back-drop was the makeshift studio for this owl, which is actually being held by one of its keepers. Same gear as the python; 1/60 sec at f/16, ISO 250. Photo: Traer Scott

Raccoon

This animal loved dog food, and posed obligingly; Scott caught it with her D800 and 24–70mm f/2.8G Nikon ED AF-S lens set to 58mm; 1/60 sec at f/13, ISO 500. Photo: Traer Scott

Ball  Python

Shot in Scott’s little black box, this snake was captured with a Nikon D800 and 60mm f/2.8G Nikon ED AF-S Micro lens; 1/250 sec at f/13, ISO 400. Photo: Traer Scott

Indian Flying Fox

It took Scott six visits to this animal, which cannot be handled by anyone, to get this shot. Shot with a Nikon D800 and the 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6G Nikon ED VR AF-S lens set to a focal length of 70mm; 1/60 sec at f/7.1, ISO 400. Photo: Traer Scott

Cougar

When animals were too large or dangerous for close encounters, Scott had to shoot from a safe distance. Shot with a Nikon D800 and the 70–300mm f/4.5–5.6G Nikon ED VR AF-S lens set to 300mm; 1/125 sec at f/9, ISO 2000. Photo: Traer Scott

Hedgehog

This cutie was shot against a backdrop—and bit the photographer! D800 with 60mm Micro; 1/60 sec at f/13, ISO 400. Photo: Traer Scott

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