Camera traps

For a decade I have been documenting the life of shy lynxes in the Bavarian Forest with my camera traps in Luchsland – alone or as a family, from the play of their young to the life history of individual lynxes. The cooperation with Luchs Bayern e.V. makes my pictures an active contribution to species conservation: they are used in exhibitions, media appearances and environmental education programs and at the same time support monitoring by means of individual fur pattern recognition. Each photo thus becomes a building block for the networking of mountain lynx populations and strengthens the network for prevention against poaching.

Choosing the right sensor is crucial for successful shots with the camera trap. In this article, I compare PIR sensors and light barriers, explain how they work, their advantages and disadvantages and give practical recommendations for optimal use in wildlife photography.

My camera traps have been documenting the lives of lynx in the Bavarian Forest for a decade. What began as a personal project became a valuable collaboration with Luchs Bayern e.V. The images not only show lynxes, but also other wild animals – a contribution to nature photography, environmental education and species protection.

The latest podcast episode is all about camera traps in nature photography. I talk about technical challenges, typical sources of error and share fascinating stories from the field. Find out how you can get impressive shots of wildlife with the right technique and preparation.

Camera traps provide fascinating insights into the lives of shy wild animals – without any human presence. In this article, I explain how PIR sensors and light barriers work, the technology behind them and how camera traps are used in research, species conservation and nature photography.