Monkey world.

Mbuti

Mbuti

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Hi,

Taking my first trip to Monkey World later this month ealry next month and was wondering if anyone has any tips on taking photos of the gibbons, wollymonkeys and orangutans they hold there.

From what I have seen from the TV the stand-off barriers are quite far back (Like Twycross Zoo) so making getting rid of wire in shots difficult. Anyone wit any experience or shooting here, help would be appreciated! :D

Thanks in advance.
Mbuti.
 
I've went to Monkey world with my wife back in February this year. The barriers are quite stand offish but the main problem is trying to find a good position to capture them. Also a fair few of the monkeys are inside enclosures which can be quite dark.

All my shots were taken with an 18 - 135mm kit lens

This was shot through fencing:


This was shot through glass:


Shot through glass also:


Bear in mind that none of these were shot for any purpose other than my wife loves Orangutans and Monkey World and wanted something to remember the day by. I didn't really crop any or do any PP at all. They are just snap shots really. Full set can be found here.

I would say get to the park early as the primates tend to feed during the middle of the day and nap pretty soon after.

It really is a lovely place though and I hope you enjoy your day, be sure to post your results on here too. :thumbs:
 
You won't get the view points you see on the TV, they use dedicated podiums and glass windows around the enclosures that the public don't have access to.

Having said that, with a bit of patience, you can get some great shots at Monkey World, you can see some of mine here:

http://www.pbase.com/ian_stickland/monkeyworld

The Lemur enclosure is great as you are literally in there with them. There are benches to sit on and if you wait, you will get very close to them.

I used a 100-400 zoom mostly for my pics. If you can I would recommend a weekday outside of school holidays as you won't feel quite so crowded.
 
I've been a couple of times &, as DeeJay says, most of the outdoor enclosures are behind wire/glass and the interior ones are quite dark. That doesn't mean that you can't get good shots, you just have to be patient especially if it's busy.

IMO the best opportunity for shots is the lemur enclosure as you can go inside - providing they're awake of course!

Enjoy your trip.
 
@NaturS - I understand that, I have visited many zoos over the year and do know about those platform staff use (there quite common in alot of zoo's for various species).

:gag: I won't be visiting the walk-thru lemur enclosure if I can help it, sick of the sight of them and then they usually only hold the regular species (ring-tailed and ruffed).

Unfortunitely I will be visiting during school holidays only time I can have holidays with ALL the family.

@DeeJay, the Wolley monkey shot is great! :D I see it exactly like Twycross no natural backdrops.

Am taking my new Sigma lens so should not have too many problems with fencing looking at your photos.

Ha ha, don't need to tell me to get there early! I shall be there well in time for opening and staying till it closes (got to get your moneys worth! :p).

Thanks I hope I enjoy my day too, I will be sure to try and remember to post some pictures but don't get much replies here!

@F3TT, Thanks, yep indoor parts of Twycross are horrible to take photos in! Thanks for the warning.
 
@Mbuti - I'll try and keep a look out for your pics, but feel free to PM me the link if I don't find it! :D Have a great day out and I hope you get good weather!
 
I always go to Monkey World, as we have free passes for the kids (due to adopting some chimps). Best time to go is as soon as it opens as there are hardly any people around - especially if you head for the middle/end of the zoo and work your way back.

That way you can have the best locations for shots without anyone getting in your way. Also zooming in helps get rid of the wires, so the bigger the zoom the better.

Enjoy!
 
Thought I'd post them here for easy viewing for the people who posted here (I assume I won't get told off for that).

Firstly it was way too hot for me and secondly it was way too busy.

Lastly while the outdoor enclosures were mostly very nice in size and plenty of equipment for the inhabitants the indoor areas were no better than any zoo I have visited. So with those things in mind I actually took very little.....and most of what I did take am not happy with because of the heat I was not concentrating on what I was doing ah well.

So here are the best of the bad bunch!

So orangutans

1 - Male orangutan Gordon outside, got a feeling he does not like cameras as everytime I turned up he clocked me and ran off or hid! (so hide behind the crowd watching him!).

2011-05-31 - Monkey World - Bornean orangutan 03 by Christopher Stanley, on Flickr

2 - Female orangutan (Nursery group, I think).

2011-05-31 - Monkey World - Bornean orangutan 01 by Christopher Stanley, on Flickr

Now for the gibbons, I must admitt there outdoor enclosures for the ones near the big play park are one (if not the best) I have ever seen.

3 - Female buff-cheeked gibbon Peanut

2011-05-31 - Monkey World - Golden-cheeked gibbon 02 by Christopher Stanley, on Flickr

4 - Female buff-cheeked gibbon Peanut and offspring

2011-05-31 - Monkey World - Golden-cheeked gibbon 03 by Christopher Stanley, on Flickr
 
Nice set of pictures there mate, well done :thumbs:
 
DeeJay said:
Nice set of pictures there mate, well done :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thank you.....

If I remember I shall upload some of my Marwell shots.....so much better than anything I produced at Monkey World.

I would like to go back on when it isn't as busy and stake a few of the animals out esp the woolly monkeys!
 
Hi All, I'm writing from Monkey World, as we have seen some of your amazing photographs of our primates! Very impressed with your work! With your permission, we'd love to use some of your images for marketing purposes to help promote and raise funds for the rescue centre. We are lucky to have some great supporters of the park who are amazing photographers and donate their images to us to use in this way. If you would be happy to donate your images to us, we would very much appreciate your help! Please contact me on communications@monkeyworld.org for more information. Many thanks :)
 
Monkey World said:
Hi All, I'm writing from Monkey World, as we have seen some of your amazing photographs of our primates! Very impressed with your work! With your permission, we'd love to use some of your images for marketing purposes to help promote and raise funds for the rescue centre. We are lucky to have some great supporters of the park who are amazing photographers and donate their images to us to use in this way. If you would be happy to donate your images to us, we would very much appreciate your help! Please contact me on communications@monkeyworld.org for more information. Many thanks :)
Click to expand...

Email just sent.
 
I'll be down there tomorrow, with camera.. hoping to get decent weather and some good shots. Nice to see the Monkey World staff taking an interest here as well. You do great work down there.
 
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