Zoo Photo Tips

Rocky Mountain Goat at the .  It was a very bright cloudless day and the sun was creating some very harsh contrasty light.  But this guy was standing in the shade which really evened the light out.  Notice in the 2nd photo how bright the white fur is in the direct sunlight. 

I like when zoos have local species in their care.  You get the chance to learn about animals in the area where the zoo is.

Friendship abounds between these two Asian Elephants at the .  Jake and Chuck are playing follow the leader in .  The photo is about both of them.  Normally,  I love using shallow depth of field to separate my subjects from the background, but when you have multiple subjects an elephants length apart, use a smaller aperture to make sure they are both in focus. Remember aperture controls how much depth of field we get in our photos.  In this photo, the foreground is blurry, almost to the point of removing the cable of the exhibit.....almost.    But I've stopped down enough to get both their faces and bodies in focus.  Adjust your aperture and learn how much depth of field your lenses provide at varying distances to get the results you like.   

The 2nd photos of the flamingos uses a much shorted depth of field because the front flamingo is my subject.

Male lion at the Denver Zoo taking advantage of the heated rocks in this exhibit.  The Benson Predator Ridge exhibit has multiple locations to photograph the lions from.  It makes it easy to get a nice background and to take advantage of the light.  Here the morning light is coming from behind him.  I really like how it highlights his mane. 

I like the direct eye contact, but the 2nd photo is cool with the profile shot.  Be deliberate with the photos you choose to use.  Don't let the subject's head and eye just randomly appear.  Make sure they are where you want him looking.  Be patient and please, please, please don't yell at them to turn toward you.