Here is the #1 thing I do when taking shots at a zoo. If you can see any unnatural object in the pic, Don't take the shot , it's that simple. this may require glass of at least 400mm depending on the zoo.
Study these , it won't take long , Shoot tight , be patient, get longer glass or get closer, if you are close to fencing put the lens right up against it and shoot as open as you can F2.8 to f4 Pay close attention to your background, always focus on the eyes .
Kid, set high standards for yourself, go during the week by yourself and plan on a full day , not all species will give you the shooting ops you want , that's why you need to go back , each day is different, get a season pass it pays for it self after 3 trips , if you have a family it will pay for itself the first trip . heck walk it 2 or three time during the day, the animals will be active at different times or may have moved . This is just mammals and birds, then you have reptiles and amphibians. That's a whole nother chapter.
Tom, these are all fabulous. I really enjoy taking pictures at the zoo, however, the larger animals frequently have tags in their ears, which ruins the shot (makes it feel less natural, of course). Did you have to clone any tags out, or does your zoo forego the tags? Thanks.
i know my zoo dont got tags. BTW Tom, they are some of the best pics i ever did see. Especially the one with theat yellow bird on the v shaped sticks. its huge eye is fantastic and funny. Thnx a ton these pics really help me.
David Israel wrote:
Tom, these are all fabulous. I really enjoy taking pictures at the zoo, however, the larger animals frequently have tags in their ears, which ruins the shot (makes it feel less natural, of course). Did you have to clone any tags out, or does your zoo forego the tags? Thanks.
Dave I.
Dave on one shot in this series had a tag it's the first deer shot , he had one in his ear.
Thanks for the examples and the tips this will help me out as well. I will be visiting the Tokyo Zoo this saturday and hope to come away with some great shots.
these are incredible, i've been to the zoo plenty and never get anywhere near these kind of shots but then again I usually shoot with a 70-200 Have not made the 400mm investment.
wow tom. awesome gallery of shots. i love your exposure and tight compositions. i haven't gone to the zoo yet to shoot. i'm waiting for my 2 little babies to get a bit older. maybe in a year we will take a family trip out to the zoo. i originally was thinking of borrowing a 70-200 lens, but now i think my trusty 400 is gonna work out just fine. thanks for the tips and the inspiration!
Amazing shots Tom. Great words as well. I will try my best to remember that for when I go to the zoo next time. Might be S.D. but could be L.A. but I will remember...
1, nothing unnatural in the shot
2, 400mm +
3, work angles so a natural bg is established.
Tom is absolutely right about going back again and again because there is always something new. As a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo I often see photographers show up at noon and then say how disappointed that the animals are not doing anything.
TIPS: Be there when the zoo opens or a couple hours before closing. Many of the zoos do enrichment for animals by putting scents, food, etc around the animals enclosure so when a animal first comes on exhibit it may search for these and also you catch them before they take their midday nap. Also mornings are great in summer to get the animals before it gets too hot. Many animals do not react to heat well. Also, not sure where you are located, but it is great that you went out in winter. Winter at the Bronx Zoo is a ghost town, but I can tell you the tigers are great with a little fresh snow and the snow leopards have beautiful fluffy coats this time of year. It is my favorite time of year at the zoo to avoid the crowds and have the animals almost all to myself.
