I'm planning a trip to the zoo soon and would like to take pictures. The only animal photography experience I have is shooting my own dog and cats. I am shooting with a Nikon Coolpix P100(which I admit I have no idea how to do much more than point and shoot.)
Any tips and examples anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Just from my own very recent experience/failure: try to find out ahead of time when the animals are most active. My family and I went to the zoo a few weeks ago and most of the animals were snoozing and very inactive...making it hard to get nice pictures.
I have a few zoo shots, not all of my favourites are on here yet but probably my best tip is to just hang at one enclosure for awhile, watch and shoot for a long time and you will get some great shots as they move around and do different things, also not sure what sort of zoom capabilities you have but having a good zoom usually helps, especially if they have big enclosures.
Yesterday for example i spent about 20 minutes with the chimps
and comic relief from the meercats
I think animals are more active in the morning/evening, not so much mid-day. If you know they're feeding schedule, that helps! Good luck. I haven't been to the zoo since starting 365 and I can't wait to visit with a fresh eye for life to capture.
I just went to the zoo this week and sometimes it is really hard to get pictures when there is a glass barrier. What I did was find a wire fence with gaps big enough for my camera and take it through there.
Here are some examples....
I agree with Paul. The animals are more active in the mornings and evenings also less crowds when they first open.
I believe you have a point and shoot camera. Most of them have a large dof (depth of field) which will stop you from focusing past wire cages. If you can fit your lens between the gaps in the wire will help.
This Jaguar was shot through a wire fence. I was able to focus past the wire.
You can shoot through glass but the camera need to be against the glass and the glass need to be clean. No flash.
This Stellar's Sea Eagle was shot through glass.
To me the most important thing is composition. It can be really difficult to frame shots that look natural.
This Polar Bear photo is not great composition but there is no where in the enclosure that looks natural. But she is a lot of fun to photograph.
The composition on this Bald Eagle photo is much better.
When you get to the zoo check to see what programs are going on. Our zoo lets the kids feed the giraffes some days. If you go to the feeding station, even before feeding time, some of the giraffes will show up. They are close enough that you can almost touch them.
If I could, for photography purposes, I would have gone alone...I went on safari with my husband and he was constantly wanting to move on, or look at different things, and I couldn't get the shot I wanted and ended up really frustrated.
Also, I would say don't go with ideas of wanting particular shots..."I want a tiger eating lunch" etc..because you get there, and the animals are never doing what you want!!!
It was raining when I went on safari, so I didn't get the shots I expected, but I did get this cracker, which I probably wouldn't have got otherwise..
Thanks for the replies everyone! I finally went to the zoo today, and took about 100 shots. I got a few good ones, but I'm mostly disappointed. Oh well, live and learn.
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Yesterday for example i spent about 20 minutes with the chimps
and comic relief from the meercats
and
were from a few months ago
Get in close with a zoom if you have it. Try to make the shot look more natural and don't be afraid to try unconventional shots or angles.
Tell a story.
Here are some examples....
Have a great time!
I believe you have a point and shoot camera. Most of them have a large dof (depth of field) which will stop you from focusing past wire cages. If you can fit your lens between the gaps in the wire will help.
This Jaguar was shot through a wire fence. I was able to focus past the wire.
You can shoot through glass but the camera need to be against the glass and the glass need to be clean. No flash.
This Stellar's Sea Eagle was shot through glass.
To me the most important thing is composition. It can be really difficult to frame shots that look natural.
This Polar Bear photo is not great composition but there is no where in the enclosure that looks natural. But she is a lot of fun to photograph.
The composition on this Bald Eagle photo is much better.
When you get to the zoo check to see what programs are going on. Our zoo lets the kids feed the giraffes some days. If you go to the feeding station, even before feeding time, some of the giraffes will show up. They are close enough that you can almost touch them.
Most important. Have fun.
Also, I would say don't go with ideas of wanting particular shots..."I want a tiger eating lunch" etc..because you get there, and the animals are never doing what you want!!!
It was raining when I went on safari, so I didn't get the shots I expected, but I did get this cracker, which I probably wouldn't have got otherwise..
Watch for babies -
Find the unusual ones. A face only a mother could love -
A bit of a different angle -
And don't forget flora. Zoos are, generally, places to find unusual plant life as well as animals. Don't forget about the plants.
Thanks for the replies everyone! I finally went to the zoo today, and took about 100 shots. I got a few good ones, but I'm mostly disappointed. Oh well, live and learn.