Zoo Photography Advice

stacy87

stacy87

Suspended / Banned
Messages
195
Name
Stacy
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm hoping to go to Edinburgh Zoo this weekend (weather permitting) with a friend and her kids, and was planning on taking the camera with me to get more practice with animal photography. I'm wondering if there is anything in particular I need to look out for when photographing at the zoo which can affect my photos?

I have pretty basic gear - Canon 500D, 50mm 1.8, 55-250mm and the kit lens (18-55mm), I also have a polarizing filter and a rubber lens hood (for the 55-250mm and 18-55mm lenses).

Any advice on how to get the best from my photos would be appreciated! :thumbs:
 
I'm far from an expert,but try to avoid things like fences, other visitors and un-natural walls in the background.Having a rubber lens hood if shooting through glass rest the hood against it to avoid reflections.
I always shoots as wide open to blur backgrounds as well.

HTH
 
Good look with your zoo shots i also went to a zoo last week with my 500d and 2 lenses the same as yours my pics didnt turn out to good so havnt posted any on here, if you get any good shots post them so i can see :-) , sorry i cant give you any advice but im still a learner;)
 
Lee0204 said:
Good look with your zoo shots i also went to a zoo last week with my 500d and 2 lenses the same as yours my pics didnt turn out to good so havnt posted any on here, if you get any good shots post them so i can see :-) , sorry i cant give you any advice but im still a learner;)
Click to expand...

That's ok, thanks for commenting - I'm still learning too! :thumbs:

Fingers crossed for some decent shots that will be worthy of posting!! :D

Charlatan said:
No advice as Ive never shot animals nor at Edinburgh Zoo but I do look forward to seeing your shots, been meaning to go for ages but now waiting for the panda to turn up.
Click to expand...

Thanks, hopefully I'll come back with some decent shots!

iain67 said:
I'm far from an expert,but try to avoid things like fences, other visitors and un-natural walls in the background.Having a rubber lens hood if shooting through glass rest the hood against it to avoid reflections.
I always shoots as wide open to blur backgrounds as well.

HTH
Click to expand...


Thank you for the tips! I'll be sure to put them to use as best I can when we're there :thumbs:
 
If you have to shoot through fences, then get as close to the fence as you can, and try to shoot with the 250mm. If you do that the wire fences will almost dissapear in some shots.

Let the kids have a go too!
 
lawrie29 said:
If you have to shoot through fences, then get as close to the fence as you can, and try to shoot with the 250mm. If you do that the wire fences will almost dissapear in some shots.

Let the kids have a go too!
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tip!! Very helpful :thumbs:

I would let them, but they're only just turning 2 this month, so think it might be a bit complicated for them :D
 
stacy87 said:
Thanks for the tip!! Very helpful :thumbs:

I would let them, but they're only just turning 2 this month, so think it might be a bit complicated for them :D
Click to expand...

Naaah, these days a 2 year old knows how to turn on the TV, DVD, PC, get online and get stuff of Ebay. Working out a DSLR will be no worse than giving them a FisherPrice toy - mastered in minutes (but only if you leave the sound on so it beeps when they get it right)!
 
Last edited:
Be ready to ram up your iso indoors and don't forget to drop it after. Usually I'm at 800+ for the apes. Also try and get as many feeding times as you can-more movement from the animals, if they have a bird display it can be a nice chance to work on birds in a predictable environment. Also shows and things will give you the chance to get pictures without slowing down the people you're with. Also print a load and send them to the kids, my daughter loves her wall full of zoo pictures
 
lawrie29 said:
Naaah, these days a 2 year old nows how to turn on the TV, DVD, PC, get online and get stuff of Ebay. Working out a DSLR will be no worse than giving them a FisherPrice toy - mastered in minutes (but only if you leave the sound on so it beeps when they get it right)!
Click to expand...

Very true! Will give it a go, and see how they like it :)

cjevans said:
Be ready to ram up your iso indoors and don't forget to drop it after. Usually I'm at 800+ for the apes. Also try and get as many feeding times as you can-more movement from the animals, if they have a bird display it can be a nice chance to work on birds in a predictable environment. Also shows and things will give you the chance to get pictures without slowing down the people you're with. Also print a load and send them to the kids, my daughter loves her wall full of zoo pictures
Click to expand...


Thanks for the advice! Much appreciated :thumbs: And great idea to print off pics for the kids too - I wouldn't have thought to do that. I'll need to check out their website again to see if they do bird displays etc and jot down some times
 
As said for fences get the front of the lens against the fence if poss at the longest you can. Same against glass and use one hand on the front o the lens towards the sun to avoid reflections
 
Take a black scarf. Use it instead of the lens hood when shooting through glass; no reflections.

Centre point AF, it's the quickest cross-type. Focus on the eyes. Keep your shutter speed over 1/500 if you can - up the ISO if you have to. Crop after the fact knowing that the eyes are in focus. I use ISO 6400 often; I keep a noisy but sharp shot, I bin a blurred shot.

Through mesh fences, pick an angle that provides the greatest distance from fence to subject, and from subject to fence behind if that's an issue. Get in close to the mesh.

Shoot at 250mm where you can; fill the frame with the animal, then you don't worry about backgrounds.

Tripods are a pain and get in other's ways. Use a bean bag, or that scarf you took, to rest on the railings.
 
Last edited:
On a recent trip to Marwell Zoo, (my first outing since getting my DSLR), I took my whole bag of lenses, monopod, tripod and remote release but ended up just using the Sigma 170-500 the whole time. Luckily it was a bright day so along with using fence posts etc it meant all shots could be taken handheld.

danbroad said:
Through mesh fences, pick an angle that provides the greatest distance from fence to subject
Click to expand...
This worked really well for me, with a trace of mesh apparent in just a handful of the shots. :thumbs:
 
I cant offer any advice but look forward to seeing some shots - haven't been at Edinburgh zoo for about 4 years. Baby is too young this year but maybe next year ;)
 
I keep meaning to have a trip to Edinburgh Zoo. I'm on leave next week so might treat myself (weather permitting). To give me an idea of what to expect and what lenses to use I did a search on flickr for Edinburgh Zoo and there are some very impressive photos taken there. Looking at the information on the images, it seems the 55-250 would give some pretty good close ups of the animals.
 
Thanks to everyone whos responded! I will take on board all the advice - including the scarf (as it's Scotland, that's a necessity anyway! :D ) and hopefully will come back with some decent shots!

Will take a look on flickr too to get some inspiration!

I haven't been to the zoo in about 10 years so really looking forward to it!! :)
 
Nearly everything I would of said has been mention already but probably the most important aspect that is not technical is be prepared to wait for the shot!

It will be difficult with your friend and her kids in two but patience can really payoff at the zoo.

Edinburgh Zoo is somewhere I really want to visit but am going to wait till the Pandas have arrived so that I can say I seen some, as its not somewhere I will be going often.

Hope you have fun at the zoo.
 
Well things didn't quite go to plan this weekend, but myself and some (patient) friends have a couple of outings planned for the coming week - Blair Drummond Safari Park on Tuesday, and to Edinburgh Zoo on Friday. Really looking forward to photographing something other than garden birds for a while! :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top