Photography tips - London Zoo

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kabalman

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I'm planning a visit with the family and kid to the London zoo in the weekend, and I need some tips on photography in the zoo based on your similar experiences.

I have the standard 18-55 kit lens, a 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom and a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens that I will be using on my Nikon DX camera, and I need some help from you in deciding which lens(es) to take to the zoo. Plus a few tips on the type of photos to take in the zoo.

I know that I have to be careful to focus thru the mesh to ensure it doesn't show in the photo, by getting very close to the mesh (or resting my lens hood on the mesh) and by choosing a wide aperture and focus on the animals away from the mesh. Some more tips like this will be useful.
 
I'd just take the 70-300. You'll probably not need anything else.

Use wide apertures. Use single point focus on the eyes. Keep your shutter speed high and try to keep your backgrounds clean. Otherwise, you seem to have it covered.
 
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Thanks Graham.

Do you think a tripod is required, or is allowed inside the zoo? I did not see anything on the website that says that it isn't allowed. So I assume it is allowed, but am not sure if it is going to be of much use? My 70-300mm has VR built in, so hopefully it should do the job, assuming the shutter speeds are acceptable.

With a VR lens, do I still stick to a shutter speed that is equivalent to the focal length i.e. at 200mm, keep a shutter speed of 1/200, or can I use a slower shutter speed in this instance?
 
I wouldn't bother with a tripod. I can't think of how you might use it. I'd still try and keep the shutter speed high for most animals as many will be moving, especially the monkeys! Indoors with some of the reptiles etc you'll probably get away with dropping the shutter speed right down as low as 1/125 or so.
 
polarizing filter might help with the glare from the glass.
 
Thanks for your advise, everyone. Hoping to get a few nice shots this weekend.
 
I went to Colchester Zoo a couple of weeks ago. The shortest focal length I used was 135mm on full frame and the longest was 560mm on an APS-H crop body. There may be rare moments when a fast (50/1.8) lens or wide (18-55) could potentially be useful, perhaps if there is a "meet the animals" moment or at feeding time, but generally long lenses are more useful.

I agree a tripod is a hindrance and probably not welcome by other visitors, or the zoo. Plus, with family to consider you'll probably have more than enough to worry about, so keep the photography side of things as simple as possible - one lens, no surplus kit.

As for shutter speeds, you've got both camera shake and subject motion to consider. VR can deal with one of those issues, as would a tripod if you had it, but not the other. It's all a big balancing act to make the best compromise you can from your exposure triangle. Remember, noise is more easily removed than shake or blur, so if you need to raise the ISO for the shot then do it.

Here's on of mine, hand held at 560mm (728mm equivalent) at 1/80. It's not real sharp close up, but just about passes scrutiny for web use....

20120725_115319_0261_LR.jpg


As for a CPL, it might be handy, but remember it will cost you up to 2 stops of light, so use with caution. A black cloth might serve better to avoid nasty reflections in glass, as will wearing dark clothing yourself, and perhaps the family too. Just get one of them to block any nasty light heading towards the lens from the wrong direction.
 
Thanks for the advise Tim. Will keep this in mind.

As you say, I will just take the 70-300mm...should be sufficient on the day as I don't want to be carrying around too much gear, especially with a little boy running all over the place.
 
p.s. If you have good light and can get good shutter speeds - say 1/500 or faster - then you might want to turn VR off. It's very much a case of only use it when you need it. There's an article here by Thom Hogan, giving more detail....

http://www.bythom.com/nikon-vr.htm

Although I'm a Canon shooter I concur that he has a point, based on my own experience with my Canon IS lenses.
 
I don't know London Zoo, but when I go to the Cotswold Wildlife Park I always take my macro and a monopod for the insect / reptile house as it is dimly lit and the animals very close. No problem with visitors or staff at all - in fact last time a Keeper came up to me in the reptile house to tell me about the zoo's photography competition!
 
london zoo's great recommend the otters as they are very open and can be photographed with out any cages getting in the way same with zebra's and giraffes. find out the feeding times as some of the smaller monkeys are in sections you walk through with them http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/exhibits/meet-the-monkeys/ . one last tip Effie one of the female gorillas is very maternal if the weather is bad and they are inside (I hope the sun shines for you) Effie can be drawn close to the glass when she spots a child. Gorillas do not hold eye contact so you need to time your shots.
 
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