First Zoo Visit - Help!

[eric_r]

Hi guys

Heading to Alma Park Zoo today after work, its only a 20min drive and $20 to get in so im planning on maybe making it a regular outing.

Just looking for any tips as its my first time. I was planning to take just my 200mm lens and leave my bag and tripod at home, especially since i dont mind shooting at higher ISOs (my photos are only ever seen in flickrs medium size, or by my friends and familys untrained eyes). Is this ok or is it stupid to go without my tripod at least?

Everything i find on the net about shooting through glass just confuses me, it seems there are like 10 different schools of thought on what angle to use. Any tips there?

Thats about all i can think of specifically, if theres anything else please let me know!

Pictures will be up im the images section tonight so stay tuned!

Thanks in advance

[aim54x]

I would take the tripod just in case....as for shooting through glass I have been told that a flexible rubber lenshood pressed up against the glass eliminates any reflection (sounds workable to me but I have not tried it).

Hope to see your shots!

[Mr Darcy]

We have "zoo specialists" here who will sooner or later give you more tips than you can handle I am sure.

But if you are planning on going regularly, I would suggest treating the first visit as a recce. Look at the animals, where they are, how they behave where are the good angles and where is the sun. Don't forget to look at the people too. Lots of good opportunities there too.

As for shooting through glass, all the methods boil down to eliminating reflections. A polariser is good, but so is ensuring that what is at the other end of the light path is a dark wall. Light travels in straight lines both towards and away from the glass, so it really is very easy to work out. Often moving just a few cm can make all the difference in the world. If you wear black, or dark clothing, you won't appear in the reflections, assuming a darkened room.

Cameron's suggestion of a rubber hood will work well, but so will simply pressing the front of the lens against the glass, but then you are limited to shooting straight ahead.

[eric_r]

Thanks guys, was also thinkin that today would be good just for some recon, as they close at 5 so today i have quite limited time. Best to use it to see which animals are where, which enclosures will benefit most from the limited afternoon sun, etc.

Also because i am such a beginner im sure today will be more about playing around with cages and glass, and less about actually taking decent shots, as my cameras still only 2days old and im still getting used to it

ok off i go! ill let you know how i go

thanks again!

[aim54x]

Great to hear that your getting out there! Fingers crossed some of these Zoo specialists hop on soon to give you some pointers (I am interested as well!)

[Mr Darcy]

Good luck Eric.
don't forget to post some shots.
Even if they are crap, in your opinion.
First others may disagree.
Second, even if we agree, we may be able to suggest what to do to improve them. So much easier when we can see what went worng. (like my typing! )
Most importantly, have FUN.

[losfp]

We're going to the zoo this weekend too - going to bring the bub to see the new baby elephant!

Well okay, WE want to go and see the new baby elephant

Glass and wire are a pain, but the secret to getting passable shots is:

1) Get as close to the glass / wire as you can
2) ensure the thing you are shooting is as far as possible from the glass / wire.

This was shot through wire (you can see the wire in the background - that is the same as the wire in front of the enclosure. D300, 70-200VR @ 200mm & f/2.8, ISO800)



This one was shot through glass (D300, 70-200VR @ 175mm & f/2.8, ISO1600)



I now have a 300/2.8, so I am going to give that a shot this weekend!! Would help even further in eliminating wire & glass, and blurring out the backgroun!!

[Bluebell]

Good luck and enjoy your new camera.
Seeing your location in Brisbane, I thought I'd just suggest a couple more locations that have provided me with a great variety of opportunities for practicing photography at low or no cost.
Firstly check out the Chermside Hills Reserve on Trouts Rd, which is free, and abounds with native plants and birds at this time of year.
Secondly the Mt Coot-tha Botanical gardens are also free, and offer plants galore, but also water birds, water dragons, frogs etc as Spring arrives.
Thirdly, only about 20 minutes from you is the Brisbane Forest Park Wildlife centre called Walkabout Creek. It's open 7 days, costs less than $6, and features bushwalks, walk through aviaries with all manner of birds, wallabies and other wildlife including reptiles and platypus. It's a great place to practice shooting captive native animals in a more natural setting or set off on a bushwalk and try shooting the wild ones.
Enjoy

[eric_r]

Hey guys got back not long ago, in the middle of editing everything now, will post very soon mr darcy

Im so happy with my afternoons work! took about 300 shots in the 2 and a half hrs i was there and i like maybe 15 of them. Which is a good strike rate for me. I haaate my lenses 5.6 max aperture @ 200mm and had alot of trouble with wire as most of the cages there have another fence 3feet in front so that you cant stick your fingers in. A few i just climbed over and got close to the cage, eliminating the wire in my shot, but often there were ppl around and i didnt want to be rude/get in trouble.

Aim54x thanks for the encouragement, only my second photo outing ever and im just so excited by it all its so fun!
Losfp those images are amazing to me, thats exactly what i had in mind heading out today only this zoo is very average and has no big cats, etc. their main draw is like koalas and water buffalo lol. Im always scared to go over about ISO800, but i can see by your images my fears are unfounded lol?
Bluebell thanks heaps for that info, id been meaning to look through the Brisbane forums for places to try out, will definetly be checking those out

My missus and i are heading to Australia Zoo in a fortnight, that'll be a big one for me as they have tigers etc., so it was really great to go today and get my head around it all and get some practice.

Can i post my images here or do i have to put them in the image forums??

[gstark]

Hey guys got back not long ago, in the middle of editing everything now, will post very soon mr darcy

Great stuff, Eric. We're all looking forward to seeing your work.

And it's great that you're so excited by it all as well. Your strike rate is great for somebody just starting out, but you'll soon be doing even better.

Don't become too forlorn over the optical speed of your lens. There are ways that you can help yourself to overcome some of the limitations it imposes. These techniques will come with time and experience, and as you encounter challenges that you need to overcome.

As a suggestion, consider buying yourself a 50mm f/1.8 as soon as your budget permits. Regardless of your marque, this is an inexpensive way to grab yourself a fast, sharp lens that's compact and lightweight; please refresh my memory: what body are you using?

Can i post my images here or do i have to put them in the image forums??

I think the image critique section would be better, especially given that (I believe) you're actively seeking constructive critique and suggestions.

[eric_r]

Hey thanks Gary

I am having ALOT of trouble uploading photos at the moment, have tried about 30 times and my slow internet keeps timing out or something :S I have one up on flickr so ill post that in the Images section now. My partner is taking them to her work to try there tommorow.

Iv heard alot of ppl say a 50mm prime is a great bit of glass in general, will have to start looking. I have a Sony a300 body and just the two kit lenses that came with it at the moment (in my sig), was planning a longer telephoto and a macro and ring light next, but yeh ill definetly have a look at a 50mm.

[fozzie]

Now for my tips for shooting at the Zoo:

1- Select a day when it is completely overcast, with good even light. This will prevent the animal from being in the sunlight as well as shade. Makes for a better shot. First thing in the morning or late afternoon is the best time.

2- Study the movement pattern of the animal in question, especially 'BIG CATS' so that you can get the best possible shot. This requires patience, but the results will be amazing.

3- If the animal is behind a wire enclosure, park yourself under a well shaded tree and close to the wire with no sunlight on the fence where you are focusing though.

4- And finally Eric, best of luck.

Following the above is how I made this shot:

[eric_r]

Thanks Fozzie great tips, cant wait to get out there again! What do you mean by 'movement pattern', all the animals i see at the zoo just lounge around asleep lol

Iv got a couple of the photos up in the Images section with alot of questions if you'd care to take a look for me?

[fozzie]

Eric,

Like with the Persian Leopard, early morning and late afternoon he will walk in a figure 8 formation for approximately 30 minutes each time. Learn how your subject moves and where they position themselves. I am sure most people think I am a animal stalker at Adelaide Zoo . Some days I am there from opening to closing time and may only take between 20-30 shots. But I get what most people do not, quality which is far better than quantity.

Thanks Fozzie great tips, cant wait to get out there again! What do you mean by 'movement pattern', all the animals i see at the zoo just lounge around asleep lol

Iv got a couple of the photos up in the Images section with alot of questions if you'd care to take a look for me?

[amashun1]

Following the above is how I made this shot:

sorry i do not have any advise here but i have to say this picture is very nice.

[DaveB]

please refresh my memory: what body are you using?

I keep forgetting too, but at least it's in his signature block.

Sony do have a 50mm/1.8 (be aware that it's for crop-factor only) and it is their cheapest lens...

[aim54x]

Shame that there are no 3rd party 50mm f/1.8s available....is there a Minolta 50mm?

EDIT: YES http://www.dyxum.com/reviews/lenses/reviews.asp?IDLens=17 and it sounds alright as well!

[gstark]

please refresh my memory: what body are you using?

I keep forgetting too, but at least it's in his signature block.

Doh!



Given a choice of the Minolta or Sony 50mm, subject to budgetary constraints, I think I'd probably choose the Minolta.

[eric_r]

Hey nice find guys,

The Konica/Minolta back catalogue is one of the reasons i went with a Sony body so this is great, theres even reviews on there from ppl who have a300 bodies. Although im concerned about things like those the old lenses not having AF etc lol (Im only 21, ive grown up not doin anything manually, all my technology is auto!)

Given a choice of the Minolta or Sony 50mm, subject to budgetary constraints, I think I'd probably choose the Minolta.

Why is this Gary? I look at reviews of lenses online all the time, but to be honest the differences in Chromatic Abberation and such between lenses, or the graph readings for things like Ultimate Pixel Density Mapping Vertical Abberation Crucible blah blah, dont bother me. I cant tell the difference (yet) anyway lol...

[gstark]

I look at reviews of lenses online all the time, but to be honest the differences in Chromatic Abberation and such between lenses, or the graph readings for things like Ultimate Pixel Density Mapping Vertical Abberation

To be perfectly honest, I cannot remember the last time I shot an image of a graph.

The only real test of a lens is what the images that you shoot with it look like.

Seriously - and this is just my personal opinion - Minolta used to be a great brand in the photographic industry. They used to make instruments that were called cameras, and they used to make lenses that were very nice.

Sony manufacture appliances; there's a very big difference.

I think that you'll find the build quality, and the overall lens quality, way better on the Minolta glass than it will be on Sony glass. I am perfectly happy to be proven wrong on this ....

[eric_r]

Ah ok fair enough, Ill start having a look at some older glass then. It'll all be second hand right? (Konica and/or Minolta) ie cheaper than new Sony lenses?

I know what you mean about Sony, iv had mine 3 days and i already wish id gone with something else lol... But im not lamenting over it and being as beginner-ish as i am it doesnt really matter that much i guess.

Also in regards to a 50mm prime, what exactly do you use those for? anything specific, or just a good all-round lens? 50mm is roughly what the human eye sees right, so you just use them for anything? Or is that only on full-frames?
I barely ever used the 50mm prime i have with my old Olympus film SLR..

Sorry i ask so many questions

Home from work sitting here wanting to take photos ], i just wanna go back to the zoo haha