Zoo photos
Apr 15, 2019 12:57:32 #
jmmcgrath17 wrote:
Looking for suggestions on taking pictures at local zoo. Mostly though chain link fencing and/or small mesh fencing. Is there a setting that will minimize or eliminate the fencing?? Thanks, Jim
Put your lens right up against the chain link fence. Try to get images of the animals where you don't capture other man made zoo features so that the animal looks like it's in a natural environment. Keep the focus on the eyes or eye of the animal. A sharp eye(s) is number one in wildlife photography. Number 2 is to try and keep man made things out of the shot. Getting catch light in the eye is also important.
Apr 15, 2019 13:10:16 #
Most of the time you won't be able to get right next to the chain link fence... best shots are when the subject animal is far from the fence and you are closest to the fence.
Apr 15, 2019 13:46:33 #
Or you could just enjoy the wonderful Zoo photos that are posted on here....and you dont have to jump any fences here....
J/K …
Good luck with your photos, get close to the fence.
J/K …
Good luck with your photos, get close to the fence.
Apr 15, 2019 13:52:24 #
jmmcgrath17 wrote:
Looking for suggestions on taking pictures at local zoo. Mostly though chain link fencing and/or small mesh fencing. Is there a setting that will minimize or eliminate the fencing?? Thanks, Jim
If you can get your lens hood up against the chain link fence you will hardly see an indication of the fence. Center the shot in the opening and shoot at wide open aperture. Indication of fence should be a very slight vignetting, and that can be adjusted by cropping, post processing adjustments, etc. Smaller mesh will be more of a problem, but if you manually focus, you can get the camera to focus on the animal, and the mesh will reduce sharpness, but will still yield some nice shots - practice at home shooting through a window screen.
Example below of a wolf at a preserve shot through chain link fence:
Apr 15, 2019 15:30:54 #
Mac wrote:
Try using a shallow Depth of Field.
. . . and manually focus on the animals.
Apr 15, 2019 15:34:18 #
Apr 15, 2019 16:03:41 #
Yes, part of my comment was a bit of tongue in cheek! But seriously, never cross a zoo barrier just to get a photo. Another comment, is if the animal is too close to the fence or what ever restraint there is you are not likely to get the fence out of the photo. In those situations I try to find a composition that lets me focus on some feature of my subject, such as eyes, teeth or markings.
Apr 15, 2019 16:07:11 #
I should also add, be aware of your background, it can be frustrating to work to get a good photo with the wire out of the image only to see a structure or other distracting feature in the back ground. I will also add to remember you have no more rights to get photos than any other zoo visitor, so be careful not to block other zoo visitors while you are photographing.
Apr 15, 2019 17:12:30 #
Zooman 1 wrote:
If you can't get close to the fence, try centering your subject within the openings of the fence. (If you want to meet zoo staff just jump over the barriers and remember to tell them you only wanted to take a closer photo!)
Dont do that at the Polar bear exhibit. You will make a very tasty lunch for them
Apr 15, 2019 18:52:25 #
Using a shallow depth of field is great when your lens is fairly close to the fence and your subject is a fair distance away. If your subject is close to the fence and your fire away even the shallow depth of field will show more fencing than you want.
Apr 15, 2019 19:01:34 #
Apr 16, 2019 04:51:06 #
I took this through the wire fence with a Nikon Coolpix P80 August 2016. Unfortunately, I missed the top of the crest but not all is lost. A little bit of work with Gimp and it's back.
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