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St. Louis Zoo advice please.
Mar 27, 2012 19:13:28 #
I have not been to the St. Louis Zoo for many years and I am considering going sometime this week (since I'm currently unemployed and therefore have plenty of time). What I would like to know is where the best locations are to take pics, i.e. fewer bars, less glass, best scenic background, most cooperative non-humanoid subjects. Any advise would be appreciated. I have a Sony A330 with kit lenses (18-55 and 75-300) and a tripod, which I'm not sure I want to cart around with me on the Metrolink. i promise to upload my best shots.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Mar 27, 2012 19:23:01 #
from my experience a long lens and tripod or monopod,(Check zoo policy) a decent iso (400 or so) and look for the higest vantage points, for venues with bars, I like a point and shoot or a bridge camera to get between the bars or wire cloth.
For shooting animals focus on the eyes. If you can fill the frame with their kissers.
Patience patience patience, wait and watch with the viewfinder glued to your face.
Set the camera for multiple exposures and burst the shots.
Have fun and enjoy the experience,.
I also shoot in RAW for the best editing.
Bound to be better advice on this thread
Post what ya get
Bruce
For shooting animals focus on the eyes. If you can fill the frame with their kissers.
Patience patience patience, wait and watch with the viewfinder glued to your face.
Set the camera for multiple exposures and burst the shots.
Have fun and enjoy the experience,.
I also shoot in RAW for the best editing.
Bound to be better advice on this thread
Post what ya get
Bruce
Mar 27, 2012 22:08:48 #
I am sure it pales in comparision but I went to my local zoo yesterday and found I used my 55-300 the whole time.
Be sure to bring a spare battery. I didn't.
Be sure to bring a spare battery. I didn't.
planepics wrote:
I have not been to the St. Louis Zoo for many year... (show quote)
Check out True Macro-Photography Forum section of our forum.
Mar 28, 2012 07:29:39 #
When confronted with fencing that you can't avoid shooting through, consider shooting with a wide aperture so as to reduce the DOF. Even a chain link fence can be made to "disapper" if you stand back a bit from the fence.
Take a clean rag, and perhaps some cleaning fluid (or water from your water bottle), to clean glass for the animals that are enclosed behind glass "cages". Note that sometimes your auto-focus might focus on the glass instead of your subject. In that case, give it a few tries and, if that fails, go to manual focus. Watch for glare off of the glass. Shooting close to the glass with a hood can help with the glasre. And shooting close to the glass can also help with the autofocus not focusing on the glass.
Compose to eliminate man-made objects whenever feasible. And, when the animals are below you, get low yourself, when feasible.
Definitely take both of your lenses; you'll need the broad range of focal lengths that they will give you.
Have fun!
Take a clean rag, and perhaps some cleaning fluid (or water from your water bottle), to clean glass for the animals that are enclosed behind glass "cages". Note that sometimes your auto-focus might focus on the glass instead of your subject. In that case, give it a few tries and, if that fails, go to manual focus. Watch for glare off of the glass. Shooting close to the glass with a hood can help with the glasre. And shooting close to the glass can also help with the autofocus not focusing on the glass.
Compose to eliminate man-made objects whenever feasible. And, when the animals are below you, get low yourself, when feasible.
Definitely take both of your lenses; you'll need the broad range of focal lengths that they will give you.
Have fun!
Mar 28, 2012 08:08:25 #
IMO, tripods are not for zoos as animals move often and quickly. A monopod may work for you, but I just keep the shutter speed high enough to offset my shakiness.
Mar 28, 2012 09:03:23 #
Amen on the spare battery!!!!! I didn't bring mine either when I went a few weeks ago and was kicking myself all the way back to the car for the shots I missed.
Mar 28, 2012 09:05:55 #
Check out Bridge Camera Show Case section of our forum.
Mar 28, 2012 09:07:22 #
Don't be afraid of shooting through glass as long as you have good light you can get some good pics. These were all shot through glass.
Mar 28, 2012 09:19:38 #
Mar 28, 2012 09:20:40 #
Mar 28, 2012 09:21:50 #
Check out Traditional Street and Architectural Photography section of our forum.
Mar 28, 2012 09:34:48 #
Mar 28, 2012 09:48:41 #
hangman45 wrote:
Don't be afraid of shooting through glass as long as you have good light you can get some good pics. These were all shot through glass.
Beautiful shots. Thanks
Mar 28, 2012 09:51:29 #
Gidgette wrote:
Beautiful shots. Thanks
hangman45 wrote:
Don't be afraid of shooting through glass as long as you have good light you can get some good pics. These were all shot through glass.
Beautiful shots. Thanks
I was actually really amazed at how well they did turn out shooting through glass that was not very clean I think it is more the camera and lens more than anything I did.
Mar 28, 2012 10:25:19 #
It came out ok because you focused on critter. You can even shoot through fence if you spot on critter and use low f-stop.
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