night zoo photography: My wife just informed me that we will be going to a zoo and viewing the christmas lights and animals in a couple of nights. What will be good, iso's, f/stops...

dhammer4 Loc: South Carolina

My wife just informed me that we will be going to a zoo and viewing the christmas lights and animals in a couple of nights.

What will be good, iso's, f/stops, and would it be advisable to shoot in ap. controll.

I,m rather new and would like to get some good saleable shots but need some expert guidance.

Thanks in advance,
Hammer

ebaribeault Loc: Baltimore

I would start with a tripod. Start with ISO 400 a lens opening of F8 with a shutter speed of 1 sec. If you have to be hand held set the ISO to 1000 Use a opening of F1.8 with a shutter speed of 1/60 th of a second These setting should get you in the ball park. Take a good look at what you are getting so you can make adjustments. Have fun

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I wonder what kind of lighting they have at zoo's at night?

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

dhammer4 wrote:

My wife just informed me that we will be going to a zoo and viewing the christmas lights and animals in a couple of nights.

What will be good, iso's, f/stops, and would it be advisable to shoot in ap. controll.

I,m rather new and would like to get some good saleable shots but need some expert guidance.

Thanks in advance,
Hammer

I would take a tripod if it were me.

ebaribeault Loc: Baltimore

rpavich wrote:

I wonder what kind of lighting they have at zoo's at night?

I would start off with the white balance on auto and adjust as the need might arise. I would suspect that the lighting source will vary from the holiday lights to the animal displays

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

Here in NY they do that every year at the Bronx Zoo. The lighting is typical christmas lighting although much more complex but not any brighter than the ones you use at your home. The animals are not "flood lit" and do present a challenge if you want to use available light. The advice of taking a tripod was good advice provided they allow you to use it.

grusum

dhammer4 wrote:

My wife just informed me that we will be going to a zoo and viewing the christmas lights and animals in a couple of nights.

What will be good, iso's, f/stops, and would it be advisable to shoot in ap. controll.

I,m rather new and would like to get some good saleable shots but need some expert guidance.

Thanks in advance,
Hammer

You might want to check your zoo's photo policy. The Ft Worth zoo has, in my opinion, a very restricted photo policy. See http://www.fortworthzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/photo-policy.pdf

But, in any event, you will have fun. Enjoy.

Tom in Dallas

dhammer4 Loc: South Carolina

:thumbup: Thanks, ebaribeault,

I'll sure try and see what we get.

kindest regards
hammer

dhammer4 Loc: South Carolina

:thumbup: Thanks, ebaribeault,

I'll sure try and see what we get.

kindest regards
hammer