Jaguars and Zoo bars...
Sep 11, 2011 20:07:28 #
Travis
Loc: Wetumpka, Alabama
I hate the little thin bars at the zoo and there is no glass to shoot these cats like there is around the lions and cheetah. Up close it does okay, but if you have to zoom out, then you see them.
Sep 12, 2011 00:49:23 #
My understanding is zoomed in or out if your are as close to the bars as you can get and if you use manual focus on the subject the bars will MOSTLY be unseen. I've been wrong before.
Sep 12, 2011 01:47:56 #
I agree it is hard to get good backgrounds at zoo's. It difficult on the glass because people (childern) have put their hands on it leaving marks.
Sep 12, 2011 14:10:52 #
Love the jaguar pictures...nice kitty! The first one hanging on the branch...funny!
Sep 12, 2011 15:41:39 #
Yes indeed... I can sympathize.
I had a really great Great Horned Owl photo I wanted to enter into that contest mentioned before... but my daughter could see the faintest shadow of a section of screen in the background and thought it ruined the whole feeling of it for her.
These are, REGARDLESS of the bars... imho... FAB!
I had a really great Great Horned Owl photo I wanted to enter into that contest mentioned before... but my daughter could see the faintest shadow of a section of screen in the background and thought it ruined the whole feeling of it for her.
These are, REGARDLESS of the bars... imho... FAB!
Sep 12, 2011 15:56:58 #
Tough lighting conditions you were under. Love the first shot but wish you could lighten just the cat. The light is coming in from the wrong direction. Maybe fill light could have been used. I don't know because I wasn't there.
In the edit I lightened just the cat, darkened the background just a tad, Removed the branch that appeared to grow out of his butt, enhanced the color saturation slightly and sharpened the whole photo a bit.
In the edit I lightened just the cat, darkened the background just a tad, Removed the branch that appeared to grow out of his butt, enhanced the color saturation slightly and sharpened the whole photo a bit.
Original - Unedited
Enhanced per Instructions
Sep 12, 2011 17:02:49 #
Zoo shooting is problematic - the bars usually present a problem, most animals are shy, and the light is often pathetic. That said, if you take your time and plan both your visit and the photo opportunities, you can usually get something worthwhile.
This was at the Brandywine Zoo outside of Wilmington, DE, at a hot summer Saturday full of little kids. The three worst factors for zoo visits.. lol
This was at the Brandywine Zoo outside of Wilmington, DE, at a hot summer Saturday full of little kids. The three worst factors for zoo visits.. lol
Eye of the Tiger
Sep 12, 2011 17:09:12 #
There is Plexiglas between the leopards, tigers and people for safety but it messes up the photography. I make a point of shooting squarely through the Plexiglas so as not to pick up fingerprints, smudges and assorted bodily fluids from tikes, bless their little hearts. :)
Sep 12, 2011 17:22:18 #
JimH wrote:
Zoo shooting is problematic - the bars usually present a problem, most animals are shy, and the light is often pathetic. That said, if you take your time and plan both your visit and the photo opportunities, you can usually get something worthwhile.
This was at the Brandywine Zoo outside of Wilmington, DE, at a hot summer Saturday full of little kids. The three worst factors for zoo visits.. lol
This was at the Brandywine Zoo outside of Wilmington, DE, at a hot summer Saturday full of little kids. The three worst factors for zoo visits.. lol
Yanno, I'm a NATIVE Delawarean, and have never been to the Brandywine Zoo.
Wow.
Since Jim took the plunge and shared his zoo photo, I'll be brave enough to do the same. I'm tellin' ya now though... the photos of the original poster are STUNNING in comparison.
Not even in the same ball-park.
(OH and a correction: It's a spectacled owl, not great horned owl. sheesh!)
And also, in the pelican pic.. that smudge of orange there in the water... that's a turtle not something i should have cut out of the pic! I have a set where these two interacted and competed for food the kids were throwing over the bridge's rails lol
Spectacled Owl at the Salisbury Zoo
Peacock at the Salisbury Zoo
Pelican also at the Salisbury Zoo
Sep 12, 2011 17:55:31 #
I love the cat pictures. I live in Maine. We have lots of wildlife. I take my camera most everywhere I go. All the best shots seem to happen when I leave it home.
Sep 12, 2011 17:59:59 #
bobmielke wrote:
...In the edit I lightened just the cat, darkened the background just a tad, Removed the branch that appeared to grow out of his butt...
LOL
Awww man.
What's wrong with a lil' roughage now and then?
Seriously though, I thought the originals were purrrrrfect; but as you might suspect... after the tweaks you did... I DO see the improvement.
That's the difference between a Pro and an amateur. :)
Sep 12, 2011 18:41:49 #
tilde531 wrote:
LOL
Awww man.
What's wrong with a lil' roughage now and then?
Seriously though, I thought the originals were purrrrrfect; but as you might suspect... after the tweaks you did... I DO see the improvement.
That's the difference between a Pro and an amateur. :)
bobmielke wrote:
...In the edit I lightened just the cat, darkened the background just a tad, Removed the branch that appeared to grow out of his butt...
LOL
Awww man.
What's wrong with a lil' roughage now and then?
Seriously though, I thought the originals were purrrrrfect; but as you might suspect... after the tweaks you did... I DO see the improvement.
That's the difference between a Pro and an amateur. :)
I've gotten to a point where I know my software so well that one glance at a photo and I know exactly what it needs and how to get there. A friend & I were talking this morning and he says I need to start a blog where I could give advice and or training on how to achieve the best end photo. I'm such a free spirit these days I don't know if I want to tie myself down to such a commitment.
Sep 12, 2011 18:58:37 #
I know so little about digital, I would love to have some pointers. There is so much to learn. I don't even know what all my settings do yet. I just play with it. I am not book smart. the instructions are useless to me. I need words I can understand. I have windows photo galler. I only have a lap top at the present time. I do plan on getting a desktop. What would be the best program for someone that is just learning the digital world?
Sep 12, 2011 19:17:09 #
If money is an issue Adobe Photoshop Elements. You can get the latest version for under $100, way under. There are a ton of free tutorials on how to use the software including an entire forum http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/ dedicated to helping Elements users.
The ultimate graphics software is Adobe Photoshop CS5. It's expensive but if you're a student or know a student you can expect a huge discount. There's even more free information out there on how to use CS5.
The ultimate graphics software is Adobe Photoshop CS5. It's expensive but if you're a student or know a student you can expect a huge discount. There's even more free information out there on how to use CS5.
Sep 12, 2011 20:53:41 #
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