This is an article that corresponds with Project Educate since it is the week for Animal, Plants and Nature. Make sure you watch ^KevLewis and ^SheTakesPics for official updates about it.

This is an ABC about Zoo Photography that is based on my opinion, feel free to disagree or take in what I have to say. Letters with animals are there for enjoyment and to see some interesting beasts

A- Aperture
Large aperture for a smaller depth of field, this could be useful when trying to blur backgrounds or for getting an animal portrait.

B- Behaviour
Keep in mind the behaviour of the animal you want to capture. Some animals may appear lazy during the day and not posing for you but they could be nocturnal. Different species will be active at different times throughout the day and you may not see them when they are active.

C- Categories
When you come back to dA after your adventure make sure you put your photos into the right category since it may not necessarily fall under Wild Animals if it is of birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects or domesticated animals from the petting zoo!

D- Distance
As in are you close to or far away from the animal? If you are far away from the animal you have a higher chance of getting a fence background and not getting an eye-to-eye angle, but then you can use a zoom lens to try and correct this.

E- Enclosures
A lot of animal enclosures are quite similar and you may want to try and get as little of them in your shot as possible. On the other hand, if you go somewhere where they are unique and exciting try and incorporate them into your capture so it will entice others to want to be there.

F- Fencing
Always try and avoid taking pictures with animals directly in front of fencing or caging, it does not make for a professional looking shot. You can either find a different place to shoot, wait for the animal to move to another location or make sure it is blurred as much as possible using a large aperture.

G- Get Creative
Tired of seeing the same old lion or tiger? Try and take pictures of them from a different angle or maybe in the snow? Or go and see animals that you may not normally take pictures of, reptiles, small mammals? Explore the zoo and take advantage of all it has to offer.

H- Height
Are there any areas where you can get some high ground over or around the enclosure? If there are then you should shoot from all angles that are available. This angle will help with getting fencing out of your shot.

I- Insects
Conservatories are also zoos for insects and you may be surprised by what kind of Butterfly Conservatories you may find in or around your area. Also if your zoo has pavilions you have a chance of taking some shots of the chosen insects.

J- Journeys
By this I mean the journeys the animal makes in and around the closure. When you watch the behaviour an animal and begin to see the patterns you can take advantage of them by knowing when they might be in certain areas of the cage or where they are fed and at what times.



K- Kneel
Is quite an opposite compared to height, but making your shots original means getting into positions that may not be comfortable for an extended period. Being eye level with any subject gives the viewer a feeling of actually being there.

L- Lighting
Watch out for shadows in the enclosure at different times of the day. Ideally you don’t want fence or plant shadows on your animal when you find that perfect capture.

M- Movement
A yawn? Playing animals? Being Social? These are all great movements to capture but ones that are not commonly seen. You may need to scope out the animal and enclosure and be patient before you can capture these golden photos that make the animals seem as if they were not captive.

N- Noise
You don’t enjoy the children running around screaming and the animals probably don’t either so have some respect and consideration. When the signs say don’t tap on the glass, take the initiative and don’t do it.

O- Off Peak
One of the best times to come to the zoo is when it is without the crowds and noise and people in the way of your amazing shot. Obviously the zoo could not survive on only the income of you coming the zoo, but it is nice to go when you know it will be easy to get into your element.

P- Pavilions
If your zoo has any special pavilions then make sure you visit them. Not only might you get some shots of animals looking like they are in natural habitats but the flora can also be quite fun to capture.

Q- Quoll
A carnivorous marsupial that is related to the Tasmanian devil.



R- Respect
Remember to respect all of the animals and the other people in the park. These animals are not only just put here for your enjoyment, some of them are endangered species or taking part in captive breeding programs. Try and learn something about the animals you want to capture, you might just find out something interesting or exciting.

S- Support
If you spend a lot of time at your zoo or have a favourite animal there don’t be afraid to support it. Tell people where you took your shots and recommend the zoo to them if you really enjoyed it. As for your favourite animal, look to see if you can adopt them and help the species or enclosure. Also, don’t be afraid to volunteer!

T- Tripod/Monopod
Great for when using longer lenses, staking your claim in crowded places or setting up shop where you know you will capture some fantastic images of your animal. If you are just starting out you should really considering investing in one.

U- Unusual
Don’t always go for the well-known species, try something different, try and get to know a different animal and surprise people with its existence.

V- Vervet Monkey
South African vermin or another animal waiting to be captured? You decide.



W- Weather
While a sunny day can be great for lighting, a snowy or rainy day can add a backdrop for your shots and make them interesting. You don’t normally see a lion in the snow but if your country gets snow then go to the zoo and take images of animals in unusual settings.



X- X-ray Fish
It certainly does exist, but sadly it doesn’t have x-ray vision because it received its name from the fact that its body is quite transparent: [link]

Y- Yapok
An aquatic marsupial that is carnivorous and is related to the opossums. Unfortunately there are no photos of this on dA, so you could be one of the first to capture one and submit it!

Z- Zoom Lens
Can be great when trying to capture the attitude of an animal or even getting close and taking some shots of the people at the zoo being amazed by the animals.



Find the party at #WildnFree!


Kayla