Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. They are just a few of the hairy creatures waiting to be photographed on your next trip to the zoo.
Here are some tips to follow to ensure you are making the most of your photo ops:
Get Close. Get in as close as possible to your subjects. If your zoo has a petting area for kids be sure to focus on your child’s face and the reactions he or she is displaying while making friends with the zoo’s four-legged residents. Getting up close also allows you to capture a goat’s shaggy coat or the coarse hair on a lazy orangutan.
Tell a story. By documenting your trip from start to finish you will be able to tell a story with your shots. Begin with your arrival and shoot chronologically to include all of the events and activities you participate in during the course of the day. End with a shot of your kids asleep in the car on the ride home.
Lighting. If you are shooting in partially enclosed zoo venues set your camera to “indoor.” If your daughter is standing in a shadow and the family of elephants behind her is in sunlight, turn on the flash to balance out the scene. Doing so will also reduce harsh shadows on her face. Otherwise, turn off your flash all together. In most cases it won’t be bright enough to light up an entire rainforest setting and if you are shooting with it on in the shark exhibit you will leave frustrated because the annoying reflections off the glass will drive you crazy.
Focus. Don’t even try to get up close and personal with a hungry tiger. However, you can get as close to the fence or railing as possible and set up your shot from there. From your position lock the focus on the tiger. If you are shooting through a fence it should
go out of focus and practically disappear.
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