DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have a propensity to fall walking downhill, moving around in the dark of night, and tripping over tripods. I have ended up in a hospital's emergency room more than twice. Nikon repair thinks I throw my equipment in the back of my truck's hard bed. I told my doctor, yesterday, that I know how I'm going to die - by falling down while making photographs. That's probably true. I won't quit and I won't be told I can't. I limp and I seem to have chronic pain and I can't take much in the way of pain medication. I am 75 and I am continuing to experience an incredibly wonderful life. One thing I have discovered during this past year is that I truly enjoy shooting zoos. They all have carts to load your gear to pull around and most of them rent little electric go-carts for around $30 for the day. The electric cart is a wonderful way to get around a zoo and most of them have ramps to access raised platforms. Be careful though. Don't drive off steps or run over little children. Zoos are wonderful places to make images and great fun. I join every zoo I shoot to help support their efforts in caring for the animals. Many of them are rescued and one zoo I shoot is 100% rescued animals. I have made specific trips to these Texas zoos: Abilene, San Antonio, Houston, Waco, Dallas, Fort Worth, and the Austin Rescue Zoo. In about 10 days, I am off to El PasoTX; Phoenix, AZ; and San Diego, CA. May 1st. I have a trip planned for the Bronx Zoo in NYC. My suggestions for shooting zoos entail shooting Monday through Thursday. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are too crowded. Use a long and fast lens. I use a Nikon 70-200 f/2.8FL and sometimes a Nikon 200-500 f/5.6. I shoot in manual mode but aperture priority would be fine. I don't really shoot with a smaller aperture than f/5.6. I get as close to the wire or glass as I can and focus on my subject. Dirty glass and wire can vanish if you have a longer focal length and wide aperture. Animals won't behave the way you want so it may be necessary to revisit the same exhibit several times during the day. Sometimes the animals get too close to the wire or glass and that makes a good image almost impossible. Primates are smarter than you might think and they will turn their backs on you or exhibit vulgar behavior. Feeding times are especially good. I do take a tripod but I don't use a flash but I have seen people that do use flash. I plan my visits to be at the zoo when it opens. I hope some of this will help a few of you get more enjoyment from your photography.

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rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Sorry to hear about your medical challenges, David. I am in much the same (leaky) boat. Good suggestions about shooting at zoos as we have some in ghis area, too.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Thanks for taking the time to offer these suggestions. Kind of you. Take care.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I AGREE with everything you say and would like to add that the Sigma 100-300 f4 is a GREAT zoo lens! Canon people should try the new 70-300 IS II nano also !! - A bodypod or monopod is also extremely useful and productive. Be aware that fencing cuts light to your lens and that you may have to switch to MANUAL focus to get through the fencing reliably !

Canon 80D and 70-300 nano from bodypod through fencing ......Palm Beach Zoo

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bikertut Loc: Kingsville, MO

David, most of my best pictures are from zoos. Anytime we are traveling i find the zoos along the way. Tulsa and OK City have good ones.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Enjoyed the post and loved the big cat. They always amaze me, too many Tarzan movies in my youth I guess!

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Don't you love it when they stare at you! I had a tiger that was roaring like nothing I have ever heard. He had his back to me the entire time. When he finished his triad, he turned his head and kinda of glanced at me like – take that idiot.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Great shots David,

You need to put the North Carolina Zoo on your bucket list. It is the largest natural habitat zoo in the world, which means in many cases no glass and no wire to shoot through. It is big though; I walked from one end to the other and back last month (doubling back to many exhibits) and I logged 12 miles. Right now they have Africa and North America and intend to add more continents in the coming years but it is really nice for photography now. They do have a shuttle bus running back and forth in the park. I guess you could take that and get off at different stops to keep from walking a lot (there is a lot of up and down hills). I don't know what other mobility helpers they have so you may want to contact them. Best months for photography are probably April, May and September, October as all exhibits are open and there won't be as many kids running around screaming at the animals. Winter is good if the cold does not bother you. There are very few people and you can still view all the animals but some of the park services are closed. Summer is crowded and scorching hot so not ideal.

Here's an informational link...
http://www.nczoo.org/

Private message me if you want to see some photos I made there.

Photocraig

I have that lens and I'm looking forward to defeating the Little League fences! The previous version worked well, too. I keep well under the minimum focus distance (13 or so inches) and shoot through shaded spots.

Great Tiger shot. Now I'll have to go the the Animal Ark north of Reno and do some cats, too.
C

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

No zoos anywhere near my area ( I wish there were)!

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Great shots David and Imagemeister.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

David, your pictures are beautiful and inspiring as is your story. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights lately with severe back pain and UHH has been my lifeboat in the middle of the night. Seeing how you are focused on doing what you love in spite of pain and challenges makes me feel encouraged.

Bob I 41 Loc: Indiana

Fabulous Zoo shots DavidPine! I enjoy going to the zoo for the same reason, but not as frequently as you do. Your opening remark really touched me and even before getting to the end, I was reminded of a quote that I snapped a picture of recently. Similar thoughts have entered my mind & over the years I've often said......"Someday when I'm sitting around in my rocking chair I'll have quite the collection of photos to go through, reorganize & enjoy!" By the way...I'm 76. Will add that quote as a picture below. Thanks for the story......& pictures! Bob

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