Tips for Camera Walking at the Zoo
- camerawalkingalong
- Mar 6, 2016
- 3 min read
One of our followers and a great Portland, Oregon-based photographer, Mark Toal, inspired me to go Camera Walking at our local zoo. Recently he posted beautiful photos on Facebook from his walking experience at his zoo. I decided to venture out and see what I could capture. The weather was warm for an early March day making it perfect for an outing.
While at the zoo you can practice taking photos of animals, something I rarely do, and you can achieve your walking goals. Woodland Park Zoo here in Seattle has 92 acres, and I walked many of the trails. It was a great outing, so I thought I would share a few tips to help you get the most from your zoo walking.
Tip #1: When to Go
The time of day and weather can have an impact on the photos you capture. If it is hot the animals often seek shelter, and it can be harder to get good photos. I went in the late morning, and most of the animals were enjoying the sunshine, which was good, but in some cases it meant that they were sleeping and not roaming around. The sun gave good light, but I had to keep adjusting my exposure to make sure that I wasn't blowing out the highlights in my photos.
Tip #2: Take a Zoom Lens
It is best to go as light as you can, and the longer your lens the better. I took my Canon 70-200mm lens. Not only did it help me capture photos of the animals who were at a distance, but because there were many people around I could shoot over their heads to get my shot, as was the case with this gorilla.
Obviously a longer lens would be helpful, but I was happy with most of the photos I took. Also it is worth noting that this is probably not the best place to bring a tripod. I personally prefer walking with just one camera and lens, so my Black Rapid strap was perfect for this type of Camera Walking situation.
Tip #3: Look for Special Moments to Capture
Take images that tell a story. You might need to wait for the animal to move, or you might need to move around to capture the shot. This gorilla seemed deep in thought, or was just resting, but I loved the mood.
Tip #4: Work Around Fences and Glass Walls
Most zoos have places where the animals are behind a fence, like this Snow Owl. To eliminate the distraction of the fence, I found a space that was not in the light. Then I focused on the owl and the fence disappeared. It took several attempts before I was able to focus on the owl, but it was worth waiting.
The photo below was taken through glass. With a bit of editing in Lightroom, I was able to take care of any of the spots on the glass.
Tip #5: Focus on the Eyes
Like taking photos of people, it is best to focus on the eyes. Ideally try to get a photo with catch light in their eyes, such as the photo above and the one below of a mountain goat. The goat was some distance away, but I was able to get a some of the light as he looked to the sky.
Tip #6: Go Inside the Bird Rooms
I found some great photos by visting the special rooms where birds fly freely. They often fly right by your head, but it is a wonderful experience to see them up close. I love this bird! He seemed to be studying me while I was taking this photo.
I have so many photos from this one excursion to the zoo. It really makes me want to go back again during a different time of day and season to see what I can find. Not only did I get a great walk, but I really enjoyed seeing the animals. Grab your camera and go out Camera Walking at the zoo. You will have fun!
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