but I was actually planning on going to the Bronx Zoo tomorrow. Anyone in my neighborhood to join me? Anyone in any neighborhoods feel like going to the zoo tomorrow? Come on people! Let's all go to the zoo!
Faidoi,
I just went and have been a member of the SF zoo for 6 years. The new africa exhibits are not complete yet, so don't be too disappointed. As for photos. Take a very long lens like a 400mm or better and a good high power flash. Get there at 10am for the eastern light and to avoid crowds. Park along sloat and skip the $5 for parking.
Is it really even possible to avoid crowds on free day?
In the middle of the week when the kids are in school it's possible. And the more you're going towards winter the better it is! Ah, the bliss of it being 20F and having the zoo to myself. Perfect!
Is it really even possible to avoid crowds on free day?
In the middle of the week when the kids are in school it's possible. And the more you're going towards winter the better it is! Ah, the bliss of it being 20F and having the zoo to myself. Perfect!
Wow, that would be nice... It seems that no matter when I/we go, there always always always seems to be a school field trip of some sort or another. And not just one school, but multiple schools.... I just don't get it, why do they think the zoo is a good place for a field trip anyways!?!? :-P
Have fun at the zoo guys and don't forget to come back and show us your shots!
Here are a few from my last trip a couple of weeks ago.
And here's my tribute to Moodville (though it's not a chimp and not half as good as her stuff) but nonetheless a tribute to her fantastic animal photography. :)
Damn forgot my battery cable and only had juice for 50 shots. Good thing I live about 5 minutes away. Go back after lunch :)
Why don't you take your laptop/wireless modem and upload some pics directly from the zoo? Seriously, if you're free Wednesdays and are that close I can probably make it in October. This was the last one I could bring Isaac without taking him out of school though ... : (
Damn forgot my battery cable and only had juice for 50 shots. Good thing I live about 5 minutes away. Go back after lunch :)
Why don't you take your laptop/wireless modem and upload some pics directly from the zoo? Seriously, if you're free Wednesdays and are that close I can probably make it in October.
Interesting thing is my current job is closer to the zoo then my house.I was thinking about taking tons of pictures going there and burn the images onto a cd, erase and then go back and shoot more :)
I can't too much ahead of time because of a 2nd job, but do bump or start a new thread.
2nd job is oncall duty at Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park so expect tons of flower shots.
Here are a couple of shots I took last Sunday at Marwell Zoo.
Here are the original's, I converted to b&w to hide the green fence wire, anyway I am going through my b&w phase at the moment. Did not do anything to the colour shots except applied unsharp mask.
2nd job is oncall duty at Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park so expect tons of flower shots.
Nice architecture opportunities too. And isn't the Arboretum across the street too? How's the demolition/construction going at the CAS and the DeYoung?
And here's my tribute to Moodville (though it's not a chimp and not half as good as her stuff) but nonetheless a tribute to her fantastic animal photography. :)
Awww thanks, and a very nice shot. Just gotta love those intense eyes.
Ok, I decided at the last moment to drop by the zoo. Crowds weren't too bad near closing time. I didn't end up taking many photos. Partly because of the time and partly because the lighting really accentuated the dirt and grime on the fences and glass in front of many exhibits. Not to mention my feet hurt before even getting there. Not a good way to start a trip to the zoo.
Ok, I decided at the last moment to drop by the zoo. Crowds weren't too bad near closing time. I didn't end up taking many photos. Partly because of the time and partly because the lighting really accentuated the dirt and grime on the fences and glass in front of many exhibits. Not to mention my feet hurt before even getting there. Not a good way to start a trip to the zoo.
Here are some photos I took though. Any constructive comments?
I must have walked right past you as I have a similar lion picture. Not as good as yours. I wish I had a dSLR with a good zoom lens. Doing zoo shots you really need a good zoom. May I ask what kind of lens you used?
Between the couple hundred shots of the "Hearts in San Francisco" project yesterday and todays' 700 zoo shots it's going to take me awhile to go through all of them of the weeks pictures.
1 of the 700 zoo shots (Will post a couple more later as they get processed):
I must have walked right past you as I have a similar lion picture. Not as good as yours. I wish I had a dSLR with a good zoom lens. Doing zoo shots you really need a good zoom. May I ask what kind of lens you used?
Sounds like you made it back with your cable. You may have walked right by me if you were at the lions around a half hour before closing. Although, I think the photo could have been taken at virtually any time of day. Seems pretty rare to get one of these semi-nocturnal cats to not look like they are doped out.
My lens is a Sigma EX 100-300mm f4 APO HSM IF. Decent lens but a little short for what I originally had in mind for it. I've been contemplating selling it in favor of a Canon 100-400 IS or maybe just a 500mm prime. Don't know. I used to be able to get out and about all the time. This last year I haven't found much time to get outdoors as much as I like.
Per the forum thread: It doesn't appear that you really need a DSLR with a big zoom. This photo is very good. Looks clear and sharp, good color. I like the blue background in relation to the color of the fur. Was it very cropped then?
Yes, it was cropped a tiny bit. Lucky part was the lion was about 3 feet away from a glass window.
