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Gday guys,

Went to the zoo today and as it was overcast no one was there - brilliant.

Managed to get these shots of magnificent tigers.
Comments and critiques welcome.





Cheers
Matt

Wow. Nice captures, but tiny DOF. Was that the aperture used or the glass screen they use to stop the tigers eating the patrons??

Hey RS great pics, Yes i was at a wildlife park other day and was same looked like rain and i was the only person there so have hole place to myself. Some fill flash might have helped a bit but to get rid of that darl side of face or eye, but hey great pics. I got a flash now so yeh i been using when taking shots of animals.
Cheers
John

Nice captures. I really like the 3rd shot. Seems to be saying, "Now what do you want?"

Regards
Meicw

Thanks chaps.

johndec, the aperture was almost wide open. I had to push to 1600 ISO and widest aperture - it was so dark that I couldnt get anything sharp. The glass didnt help either.

I tried fill in flash but it was boucing off the glass and creating ugly reflections.

I spent almost 40 minutes photographing them, man are they awesome.

Matt

Ok RS well u did well mate didn't realise they behind glass but did well.
Cheers

rokkstar wrote:Thanks chaps.

johndec, the aperture was almost wide open. I had to push to 1600 ISO and widest aperture - it was so dark that I couldnt get anything sharp. The glass didnt help either.

I tried fill in flash but it was boucing off the glass and creating ugly reflections.

I spent almost 40 minutes photographing them, man are they awesome.

Matt

Aha.. It all makes sense now. Just checked the exif, 1600 ISO at f2. Looks like your 50mm f1.4 got a workout That explains the DOF. Did you use any noise reduction software, because if not, I'll never be afraid to push the ISO in the future.

johndec wrote:
Aha.. It all makes sense now. Just checked the exif, 1600 ISO at f2. Looks like your 50mm f1.4 got a workout That explains the DOF. Did you use any noise reduction software, because if not, I'll never be afraid to push the ISO in the future.

Nope, no noise reduction at all. At full isze there is a bit of noise but they are surprisingly clean. I dont usually like going to 1600 but needed the shots. I was using the sigma 70-300 dfor some of the shots too and am so surprised that they came out sharp. But yes, the 50 worked like a dog!!

rokkstar you have done well..

flash and glass = bad
flash and wildcats = bad

That first pic is amazing. It’s as if the cat is saying ”What in the name of fecking hell do you think you are doing - mate?”

Edit: Fecking - For non-Irish members this is a word used in a very funny (IMO) comedy shown on UK TV called ”The Fitz”

Matt
Pic no 3 does it well. Tell me there was no glass between you and Tabby?

I am so glad there was glass between him and me. At times he was a mere 2 inches from giving me a very nasty licking!!

Matt you've done exceptionally well. The glass has been your friend here since it allowed you to get nice & close safely. These are all very good shots - especially given the circumstances.

Aren't the big cats awe inspiring... Great when the crowd's not there and you can park yourself in the good spots and just wait, and wait, and wait... for the right shots... Great shots... Colour seems bang on too, especially considering you shot through glass, I always have trouble getting the colour right when shooting through glass...

rokkstar:

my personal fav is the closed composition of the last one, a nice portrait of a beautiful animal... i like that you caught his eyes up close..something that you cant see everyday, which is what photography is all about.