Photo sharing: Zoos

[KimAshton]

Wow these are amazing.

 

[eugeniuss]

Wow, lots of D/FW Disney and photo freaks here...

 

[Sir Bouncealot]

The picture of the gorilla is AMAZING! Great set of pics!

 

[ktulu]

Thanks! I wasn't sure how these would come out, me and my 75-300mm don't get along usually

 

[tadamom]

Great pics!!!

 

[Shifletjl]

Thanks for sharing your zoo pictures! We are visiting San Diego this summer and I am looking for tips on zoo photography. Any you would like to share? Thanks

 

[ktulu]

Thanks for sharing your zoo pictures! We are visiting San Diego this summer and I am looking for tips on zoo photography. Any you would like to share? Thanks

Tripod and patience Animals are like kids, they won't hold the pose long enough to compose the shot so you have to be ready and they certainly don't listen to you! Also watch out for obstacles like branches, weeds etc. that might get in front of your subject. Depending on where that obstacle is, it can either enhance or ruin the shot.

 

[jann1033]

Thanks for sharing your zoo pictures! We are visiting San Diego this summer and I am looking for tips on zoo photography. Any you would like to share? Thanks

one thing i noticed is some zoo's newer exhibits are behind glass...nice to view, not as easy to photograph..this trip i'm taking my circular polarizer to see if that helps but imo glass makes it much more difficult since at least at our zoos the glass is scratched and dirty. at least with fences, bars you could get close and hope they disappear. with the glass you can get close but that doesn't help with dirt and giant scratches. last trip i couldn't get some snow leopards at all due to the sun glare on the glass( and hadn't gotten a cp for my 70-200 lens yet.) i'll see how it goes this time with cp although this zoo (cleveland vs akron) doesn't have as many only glass enclosures. don't know about san diego's set up but you might want a cp before you go.
also i'd take a lens with as large an aperture as you can so you can get a fast shutter speed to freeze the action on some of the less lazy animals...ie a swinging monkey doesn't wait for anyone to take his photo
ie this hyper "some kind of primate who needed a facial hair trim" who literally paused for about a second at the akron zoo

and if you can use a continuous/burst mode it helps since they don't always cooperate and look at the camera. that way you can take a number of rapid shots and maybe get one where they are at least partially facing you

 

[ktulu]

I don't have a cp for my 50mm, I think I have one for the 75-300mm, but I didn't shoot through glass with that, just the 50.

I was at the SD Zoo last year, and I don't recall much glass at all. The Polar Bears have glass, but there is also a building/cover of some sort that was helpful. I believe the bulk of the animals are open. I would recommend a lens hood, something I thought I had, my wife ordered the wrong one

 

[Shifletjl]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

 

[woody64]

Here are some pics from our trip last week. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

I will add more later from Legoland and San Diego including whale watching.

 

[hjd0411]

Woody, they look great! I love all the colourful flowers, and the fireworks, and the California Screamin' roller coaster! Good work, and thanks for sharing.

Heather

 

[Caitsmama]

They're great!! TFS!

 

[Jeanne B]

Oooh, can't wait, eleven more weeks until our first trip to Southern Cal!! Thanks for posting, I love the bright colors in the first two pics.

 

[dcg0317]

Beautiful shots, very colorful. Thanks for sharing.

 

[sk8belle]

Great night shots. I really liked the one of the ferris wheel and California Screamin' coaster.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

They are all great, but this is my favorite.

 

[woody64]

Thanks everybody. The nightime DCA pic is one of my favorites and it is a neat effect with the ferris wheel turning during the exposure. I thought it would ruin the shot but made it look better IMO.

Here are some from Legoland in Carlsbad.

Notice Washington's ear being cleaned!

Las Vegas was officially opening the day after we were there and they were working very hard finishing everything up

Thanks for looking and next up will be San Diego including whale watching and the Zoo. I am also looking for any pointers as some these pics have been cropped but none of them have any other adjustments.

 

[woody64]

Last update from trip. San Diego & whale watching.

USS Nimitz-deployed Monday for 6 months in Persian Gulf

Zoo

Komodo Dragon

Thanks for looking.

 

[Shifletjl]

Thanks for adding the San Diego pictures. We will be there this June. If you will, which lenses did you take to the zoo? Great pictures!