NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: smusesuse on August 14, 2015, 23:54:12

Title: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 14, 2015, 23:54:12
Earlier this year, I took part in a 'photographic excursion' to the zoo. That was one of those days when I learned that taking pictures can take patience and the ability not to get discouraged quickly. I took A LOT of pictures and I liked very few afterwards. I hope that ratio will improve over time. ;)

Anyway, here are a few shots that I liked and which I wanted to share with you.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Lars Hansen on August 15, 2015, 19:21:26
Great zoo shots Susanne! Not the ordinary stuff - I especially like #1 and #2.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Jakov Minić on August 15, 2015, 22:07:18
finding nemo  ;D
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Gary on August 15, 2015, 22:43:51
I quite like the butterfly and the shy Nemo is a very nice capture. Thank you for sharing.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: elsa hoffmann on August 16, 2015, 07:28:07
The glasswing is also my favourite  - nicely done
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 17, 2015, 16:08:29
Lars, Jakov, Gary, and Elsa, thank you for your nice comments.
The butterfly is my favourite as well, these creatures are just so beautiful to look at.
But I'm glad that the tired lion and the big bellies found a supporter too. :)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: HCS on August 17, 2015, 19:57:28
You know the old saying ... when in the zoo, shoot some elephant butt  8) 8) 8)

I really like the butterfly !
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 17, 2015, 20:38:06
You know the old saying ... when in the zoo, shoot some elephant butt  8) 8) 8)

I really like the butterfly !

Yep, that's what they say. And I obliged. :D
Thanks, Hans!
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Jørgen Ramskov on August 18, 2015, 12:28:51
Good work, I personally like the "elephants on an evening walk" the most.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Erik Lund on August 18, 2015, 14:55:52
The butterfly is really nicely done! So Sweet ;)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: John Geerts on August 18, 2015, 15:01:03
The butterfly is great indeed, very lucid.   Was it in Artis?
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: David Paterson on August 18, 2015, 19:00:40
I'm not so keen on the lion but the others are excellent. Also I like the fact that in the elephant shot, the lower half of the dead tree on the right has the shape of a pelvis two legs and what could be a tail; it almost mirrors the rear view of the elephants.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Jan Anne on August 18, 2015, 22:28:56
Taking animal shots is very time consuming, a lot of waiting for things to happen and a lot of wasted shots taken to anticipate upcoming events which turned out to be nothing. So hang in there, study their behaviour while waiting for the good light and fun opportunities to present themselves :)

In the zoo the extra challenge is to make the shot look like its been shot in the wild, unless you want to tell a sad story of the poor animal locked up behind bars for life. In that regard the lion image doesn't work for me as the wall in the background puts the lion in the zoo but the butterfly image could have taken everywhere, well done.

Elephants are a difficult topic because they are a very big grey blob with little pigmy eyes, haven't succeeded myself in capturing them properly in the zoo. I like your image though but would like to see it in black and white as the eye is attracted to the brightest or most colourful spot in an image and in this case that is the background and not the cute couple. In B&W you equalise the colour pallet and with proper sharpening and added contrast only applied to the main subjects they should pop out of your screen and become the main focus point.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 20, 2015, 10:00:15
Thank you guys for your nice and helpful comments! I'm still amazed at how you sometimes see your pictures differently when you get another person's take on them.

The butterfly is great indeed, very lucid.   Was it in Artis?
John, all the pictures were taken in Blijdorp.

Elephants are a difficult topic because they are a very big grey blob with little pigmy eyes, haven't succeeded myself in capturing them properly in the zoo. I like your image though but would like to see it in black and white as the eye is attracted to the brightest or most colourful spot in an image and in this case that is the background and not the cute couple. In B&W you equalise the colour pallet and with proper sharpening and added contrast only applied to the main subjects they should pop out of your screen and become the main focus point.
Thank you, Jan Anne, for your detailed critique. I really appreciate this. I see your point regarding the b/w, I will try a conversion and probably post again.
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 22, 2015, 02:22:03
Somehow I like the Elephant bums. They calm me down and are generally very laid back.

Gosh, how often have I opened this thread to find a good comment.

I also like the jawing leoness fading into the background
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 25, 2015, 15:55:02
Thank you, Frank! Yes, the elephants had a very laid back air about them. :)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Jan Anne on August 26, 2015, 18:57:36
Thank you, Jan Anne, for your detailed critique. I really appreciate this. I see your point regarding the b/w, I will try a conversion and probably post again.
Curious what you came up with :)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 26, 2015, 23:00:11
Curious what you came up with :)

Et voilà, my b/w-version of the big bellies. :)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Jan Anne on August 26, 2015, 23:22:28
Big improvement IMHO, what do you think?
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Jakov Minić on August 26, 2015, 23:56:18
I like the conversion of the big bellies very much :)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: elsa hoffmann on August 27, 2015, 07:23:36
the big bellies truly show their size
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Erik Lund on August 27, 2015, 08:46:17
Then a square crop to finish it off  ;)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: smusesuse on August 27, 2015, 11:02:03
Thanks guys! Jan Anne, I agree with you, I like it much better now. I'm not sure about the square crop, Erik, but I'll look into it. ;)
Title: Re: Some pics from the zoo
Post by: Erik Lund on August 27, 2015, 13:18:59
The square crop will make the round Bottom/Belly stand out more graphically ;)