For many of us, the zoo is the closest thing we have to a safari. If you know what you're doing, you might even be able to take photos that look like you're on safari without the price tag of a holiday abroad. Also, shooting in a zoo allows you to take photos of animals from all over the world in one day instead of making multiple trips. Photographing animals in the zoo presents some interesting challenges. Below are some tips to get the most out of a day at the zoo.
1. Check the weather forecast
Check the weather forecast in advance and protect your equipment against rain and moisture. Animal behaviour and visibility vary by species and weather conditions. Overcast weather can provide pleasantly soft light, while rain can sometimes produce unusual photographic opportunities.
Go out on temperate, partly cloudy days when the animals don't need to hide from the heat or be in too bright light. If your schedule doesn't allow you to be picky, bring an umbrella and a rain cover for the camera in case of bad weather.
2. Plan your visit
When you go to the zoo, decide in advance which animals you want to photograph that day, then think of the most rational order and then plan your route. Having a schedule will save a lot of hassle and time on the day itself.
Do not pack too much heavy equipment. Remember that you will be walking a lot, stopping frequently and may be surrounded by many visitors. A lightweight telephoto lens is a practical choice for many zoo photographs. Bring only the additional equipment you actually expect to use.
Because a monopod is smaller, it's also less likely that someone will bump into it while you're shooting
With a 70-300 mm lens you have enough range to take reasonable close-up photos while you can also zoom in on animals that are further away or high in the trees.
With the same lens, a crop-sensor camera provides a narrower angle of view than a full-frame camera. As a result, the animal appears larger in the frame, although the lens’s actual focal length does not change. This can be useful when photographing animals that are farther away.
Bring as little equipment as possible and check in advance which tripods and monopods the zoo allows. A lightweight telephoto lens, a spare battery and sufficient memory are usually more important than a substantial tripod. A monopod can provide support while taking up less space.
A monopod is better and works on the same principle as a tripod, but has only one leg and takes up much less space and the setup is not nearly as complicated. Plus, it's smaller and lighter, so your pack will be lighter when you're walking all day. Because a monopod is smaller, it's also less likely that someone will bump into it while you're shooting. It can also give you some extra height when you need to shoot over the heads of people in front of you.
If your camera doesn't perform well in low-light situations and you need to lower the shutter speed to keep the ISO low, a monopod is your best friend. Shooting in dark exhibition caves, dens, and especially the reptile house, can be difficult. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the camera is to light. The disadvantage of a high ISO is that as you increase the sensitivity, the photos become grainier.
Lowering the shutter speed is another way to let in light, but it opens up the possibility of blur caused by the micro-movements you make while shooting. That's where the monopod comes around the corner. It provides stability that you can't get by just holding the camera in your hand.
3. Arrive early
Go to the zoo when it opens and look for the animal you most want to photograph. Many animals wake up in the early hours and take long siestas in the heat of the afternoon. It's more likely that an animal is actually doing something other than hiding from the midday sun or taking a nap with its back turned. Some zoos have days where they let members in early, before the zoo opens, which really gives you a chance to see the zoo without tripping up the other visitors.
4. Know the rules
Many zoos have rules about what you can and cannot photograph and where flash photography is allowed. Pay attention to all posted signs and read the website's FAQs to avoid problems. Don't go off the beaten path, climb railings, sneak into employee-only areas, or dangle yourself precariously over the moat surrounding the tiger exhibit.
5. Hide the fences
The biggest barrier between you and the animals is the fence, and of course it is there for good reason. Move as close to the fence as practical without touching it or any other barrier. Use a wide aperture and focus on the animal. This can render the fence heavily blurred and almost invisible. Always follow the zoo’s signs and safety rules.
The fences that separate people from animals are of course for security purposes, to protect us from the animals and in some cases the animals from us. Still, there's nothing more frustrating than a nice photo with a cross-section of wires, and if you have a photo book made from your collection of zoo photos, you don't want to see those fences on all pages.
Move as close to the fence as practical without touching it or any other barrier
So when photographing zoo animals, you need to focus on a spot outside the fence. Doing this can make the fence blurry and virtually invisible. If your camera has the option, use the single focus point option. This allows the camera's autofocus function to be turned off, giving you control over where the focus falls within a photo rather than relying on the camera making a choice automatically.
Another tip: if you choose a part of the fence that is in the shade, you will not be bothered by the light reflecting off the metal surface.
6. Be considerate
It is important to take both the animals and other people into account. Patience is the key word here. Wait for people and children to move on if they get in your way. They are there for a different experience than you, but it is no less important.
Second, realize that these animals' attention should not be attracted by loud noises, rattling keys, or calling to them. Observe and watch their behavior. See if you can predict what they will do and have your camera ready to capture it. If you're too busy mashing keys, you won't be ready to aim, focus, and click the shutter. Let alone thinking about f-stops and exposure settings. You are an observer of their habitat. Enjoy it, the right moment will come naturally, your recordings reflect your patience.
So take into account the animals you photograph. No matter how jaded or relaxed an animal is, a camera flash can still be uncomfortable and disorienting.
7. Create a connection through the eyes
The reason why animals are so attractive to people is that we feel a personal connection with them. Regardless of our fear of wild animals, we are aware that we share something with them on an intrinsic level. By focusing on the eyes we can actualize that connection in our photo. On a more technical level, it also ensures that the animal's face is sharp.
Animal portraits are extremely powerful and just like people, you want to focus on their eyes
Animal portraits are extremely powerful and just like people, you want to focus on their eyes. Their expressions are priceless when their eyes are captured in focus and in the right light. Also consider the angle and position of their heads and bodies. A bit of a side angle with space on the side they look works well.
Other times, a full, face-on image speaks volumes about the animal's power. This zebra is another good example of that. Think about what you want to say with the image. Is it a humble animal in its environment or is it a powerful, demanding animal. Position and perspective are important. But whatever you go for, the look in their eyes will tell the rest of the story for you.
To really connect with an animal, photograph them doing something that is characteristic of their nature
Another way to connect with animals is to photograph them doing activities that involve humans, such as eating, caring for their young, or playing together. Additionally, to really connect with an animal, photograph them doing something that is characteristic of their nature. Some animals are stoic, others exemplify poise and grace, while others are known for their playfulness.
8. Use natural light
Lighting in the zoo is really no different than any other lighting. If it is a cloudy day, you are lucky and can avoid harsh shadows. If it's a sunny day is, focus on the animals that are in shady areas to avoid shadows over their faces and bodies. If they are in sunlight, be aware of too much backlight, which would render them only as a silhouette with less detail.
Ideally, the light will hit their mane or the side of their face for dramatic purposes. Move around, try different angles and always be ready to shoot. The light changes with the movements of the animals.
9. Pay attention to composition
When taking a portrait photo, leave space on the side the animal is facing. Pay attention to where the space is. If an animal is moving in a certain direction, you want space on the side they are going, rather than having them placed against the edge of the photo.
Another important note: pay extra attention to what's in the background of your image. If the zookeeper is in the back picking up trash, you probably don't want him in the picture. Lots of background clutter competes with the animals and will make the image look more like a tourist photo than a professional one. Just be aware of what is in the background and foreground. Really pay attention to what will be in the cutout.
We're often a little obsessed with taking that wide, sweeping photo. Animals are interesting because they are similar to us in some ways, but also so different. Capturing those small details is an important part of painting the whole picture.
10. Be patient
Zoo photography, just like safari photography, requires you to be patient. You spend about ten percent of your time photographing and ninety percent of your time waiting for the animals to do something worth photographing.
Usually animals in the zoo don't do much until they suddenly do something exciting. If possible, use settings that prepare your camera to capture an animal in action. By being prepared for an animal to move without warning and very quickly, you can capture the action as it happens and prevent the photo from becoming blurry.
Your shutter speed determines how quickly your shutter opens and closes. Fast shutter speeds freeze movement, while long shutter speeds reveal movement. Fast shutter speeds are indicated by a large second number, such as 1/500.
Keep in mind that having the shutter open for only a short time limits the amount of time it takes for light to reach the sensor. You may need to adjust some other settings, such as your aperture and ISO, to get the perfect mix of a fast enough shutter speed while still having the right amount of light for a good exposure.
11. Watch out for reflections
Like an iron fence, the glass that separates us from the fish, snakes, lizards and a menagerie of other critters can wreak havoc for photographers. The surface of the glass can reflect light from our flash or from outside the tank, causing glare or it can cause the reflection of our own camera and the people and objects surrounding the exhibition.
Do not use flash where the zoo prohibits it or where it could disturb the animals. Prefer the available light. To reduce reflections in glass, place the lens as close to the glass as practical without touching it, use a lens hood if possible and photograph at a slight angle.
12. Get a season pass
If you're going to your local zoo, it might be a good idea to get the season pass so you don't feel the need to rush from place to place. Many zoos have season passes that offer a little more than day admission and allow you to come and go as you please all day, all year round. You can also come back to photograph during different, special times of the year, like when all those adorable lion cubs are born.
