Zoo's. Worth a visit out of season?

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Martyn
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Just looking for some feedback really. I have a couple of days off work next week and really need to get out with the camera. I'm just wondering how much animal photo potential there is at zoo's when its a bit colder.

I don't want to waste a day at a zoo if alot of animals are going to be tucked up in their warm houses. I would rather spend the extra money and hit the coast for some landscape shots.

So Cotswolds or Marwell. Any good at this time of year??

Or pack the hikers and go coastal!
 
Marwell is pretty poor in the winter. Nothing is out, it's all indoors. It's still a nice trip out of the house though. Buy a pass and you don't feel like you've lost any money :)

Used my pass 3 times last winter, then about another 3 in the summer and at a couple of other zoos as well :)
 
Get to Cotswold a fair bit even in winter, and would say yes, but can be pot luck, if the weather is reasonable then worth it, if raining then no, but you do have the option of the Cotswold's and its many villages for landscape if they are not playing ball.
 
Marwell Zoo is a bit naff anyway. Whipsnade is much more photographer friendly :)
 
I used to have a season pass to chester zoo, pick a nice bright day and there's plenty of photo opps there, the penguins go nuts if it snows, also the Siberian tigers love the cold, they're always on the move, every time i've been in the summer they're asleep in the shade.

If it's a decent size zoo I don't think you'll be wasting your time, the difference between a day ticket and a season pass wasn't huge at Chester Zoo, about 3x I think

If it's fairly local it's worth buying even if you only go in for a couple of hours at a time
 
wack61 said:
I used to have a season pass to chester zoo, pick a nice bright day and there's plenty of photo opps there, the penguins go nuts if it snows, also the Siberian tigers love the cold, they're always on the move, every time i've been in the summer they're asleep in the shade.

If it's a decent size zoo I don't think you'll be wasting your time, the difference between a day ticket and a season pass wasn't huge at Chester Zoo, about 3x I think

If it's fairly local it's worth buying even if you only go in for a couple of hours at a time
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Agree about Chester Zoo , I actually only go in the winter theres always something to see and some of the enclosures are excellent for photography
Pete
 
I think most zoos will be pot luck in winter to some extent but the bonus is that they won't be crowded so there's a good chance that when the animals do appear you'll have much more time and space to photograph them. If you're willing to travel then Whipsnade is one of the best places for photography. There are a few TPers who are members and there is a large meet there every January.
 
:agree: :plusone:

Cold and wet is probably not a good time to go but just cold is often great! Steamy breath against frosty ground. Crisp air. If you're lucky enough to catch snow, it's even better. Just be careful going from cold and dry to warm and moist. It's a pain when the lens steams up but can be even more so if you get condensation in the works of the camera.
 
I go to South Lakes Wild Animal Park all the time in winter, as long as it is not raining (which it never does in Cumbria!!) and the ground is not too wet, its OK. With good winter suns its great, the Lemurs are all out sun bathing. If ground is boggy rhino and giraffe are ket in, the rest come and go as they wish. I have seen plenty out on freezing days.
 
I'm a big believer in zoos "off season".

You can run the risk of harsh light and harsh shadows in summer and so pictures can actually be better in winter - especially of the colder weather species...
 
Off season can sometime be the best time to go. Less people to get in the way, less kids kicking and screaming :runaway: and some animals particularly like the cold.

Remember to wrap warm though!!

Arron
 
Cheers for all the feedback. I am going to buy an annual pass for Marwell this year as i have lots of ideas planned for 2010.

It looks like i'm going to have to have a look at the weather on monday morning to decide what to do. I don't mind it being cold but a whole day in the rain is not much fun.
 
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