If you are bent on taking pictures of wildlife animals but do not have the budget to go on exotic locations, don’t be disappointed yet. There are other options, like visiting your local zoo. It is cheaper, you do not have to wait for the animal to show up on a specific spot, and you do not have to always put yourself in harm’s way.
Since most zoos operate during the day, lighting will not be a big problem so use this to your advantage. For the best outdoor lighting, use ISO 100 film. It will enable you to enlarge the pictures still bearing its sharp details. ISO 200 or 400 film is best for indoor and outdoor photo sessions.
Before you begin your work, it is important to know the zoo’s rules and regulations about taking pictures in various locations within the grounds. Talk to the management and determine if the use of flashes and tripods are allowed near the animal cages or shelters.
Furthermore, ask the operation schedule of the zoo. You may want to visit on days when there are less people. You do not want to always ask people to move from where they are standing because your view is blocked.
Bring extra film and batteries. And even if the crowd is minimal, never leave your things unattended.
A small depth of field is the perfect setting for taking wild animals confined in closed spaces like in the zoo. The background is blurred but the focal point stands out, which is exactly your main goal. This will add to the illusion that the animal is out in the wilds and not trapped behind bars or cages.
One disadvantage is that you can only get close to the animal to a certain extent, particularly because of the enclosures around. It would be great if you have longer and wide-angle lens so you can zoom even if you are quite far from your subject and can take interesting views of the same scene.
Day time lighting might be a little too much so take a polarizer filter to increase the color texture of your subject and the background plus soften the harsh sunlight. On the other hand, enhancer filter should be used to make various colors pop out.
Do not underestimate the usefulness of a tripod. It is your perfect solution for weary arms, shaky hands, and blurred images. A slower shutter speed will help in absorbing more color for your images.
When your subject is positioned just the way you like it, take as many shots as possible from different angles. Do not pause to look at the LCD screen which you can do during the printing process. You want to have variation in your subject’s perspectives.
Use a flash to decrease the amount of shadow in your images. You can never control the movement of the wild animal, but you can always manipulate the settings.
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