Zoo Day

This is the first day out with my new camera- everything is shot with my Canon 50D and Chris coaching me as to aperture and shutter speed settings. By the middle of the day I was metering and focusing manually without help, and I definitely feel like I have a handle on things.

Photography is so split-second. I'm used to seeing set-up studio shoots and crazy nature photography documentaries and nothing in between so I had no idea what to expect. Everything is in constant motion- the time of day, the people and animals around you, your own body and energy level- I felt in tune with the ebb and flow of the day, which is calming for me. I'm used to hectic schedules and last-minute studying, not contemplative angles and meandering between monkeys and flamingos. Not that every shoot will be this way, but I enjoyed it. Maybe when my shoots will be project and grade-based I won't be so relaxed!

Take a look, and please please comment, even if it is constructive criticism.





The monkeys were amazingly hard to photograph. My camera wanted me to meter against the sky, and it would make the subject crazy dark. I had to manually focus so that the ropes didn't take over the picture and make the monkey fuzzy. The best shot I got of him was actually a wonderfully crotch-focused one, so I skipped it to keep the page PG. :D


I've found I really like photographing flowers and leaves- for one they stay still! And there is so much natural detail that I was able to get up close and personal with. I may be a dweeb for finding their beautiful simplicity so intriguing but I don't care :P



leaves...




Flamingos! Just for you Laura... I still think this is your spirit animal :D

I will never get over how adorable red pandas are. These guys were super lazy all day so I had to get them sleeping, not playing...