Zoo photography: my learnig & tips

How could I have resisted not going to Delhi Zoo again after the successful first trip.

And a big thanks to all those who trusted our earlier walk excitement and joined us and made it a bigger event.

As you know now this was my consecutive second trip for Zoo photography, I surely enjoyed it though but I think there are some challenges when you shoot in Zoo. The two big challenges are: First, the distance between you and the animals, this specially is the case if the animals are in an open area. For e.g.: Bengal Tiger, lion, Gibbons etc. The ones who are caged are difficult to capture as the bars make it difficult to get any straight shot.

Another funny challenge is that the Zoo animals are hyper in nature and they don't really stay at one place and keep moving or jumping around. I understand there behavior as they are animals who live in a free world and roam freely when they get caged they don't get that space to move freely so we find them jumping and hoping in the limited area

In spite of these challenges we could click some good photographs, In my opinion the trick to photography in Zoo is.

1. Be patient and don't run away quickly.

2. Look for a good spot from where you can capture your target

3. Wait for the right moment when which the animal might give you any time

4. Be careful about the background, at times you get artificial cemented homes as background which make the photo look very unrealistic. Try and capture them in the jungle kind atmosphere around them,

5. To capture close-up shots you need to have zoom lens with you otherwise a normal lens can also play wonders

6. Focus on eyes if you are taking a close up shot, eyes showcase the emotions in close up shot....this is true for any portrait photography

7. Most of the animals are fenced so click a good photograph of these animals you should be closer to the fence and it's all the better if the animal is away from the fence.

Challenges and good photography tricks shared are based on my experience only, let me know if you like these and plz do add to the list.

Also check out some of my latest clicks:

Clikwalk @ Safdarjung Tomb, New Delhi

Clickwalk Started on 1st April 2012 and it's 19 weeks since the start and every week we are click walking around Delhi at various places. The group starts early morning 6 am (I know not so early) and goes to places clicking, talking, laughing while walking around a monument or any other place....

Last Saturday (11th Aug) we went to Safdarjung Tomb, a place I have crossed so many time in my life but never visited...I always thought it is nothing more then a lovers point and ofcourse my interest in historical places also was not that great ever but when I visited Safdarjung Tomb on clickwalk with other members of the group (Riddhish, Romel, Shailendra, Manish etc.) the place was quiet nice. It is a well maintained place with good open green space around and well preserved I must say.

Not only the place was good but the weather also was nice with cloudy sky as a good backdrop and lots of birds flying around the monument....
A beautiful mausoleum, Safdarjung's Tomb was built by son of Safdarjung "Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah". It was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style, and was described as "the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture". Enough has been written about this place so I shall link you to other sites to know more about Safdarjung Tomb and shall share some of mine and my clickwalk friends photographs. To see more amazing and beautiful photographs Click ---> Clickwalk Safdarjung Tomb photographs




Safdarjung Tomb, New Delh, India





Safdarjung Tomb, New Delh, India





Safdarjung Tomb, New Delh, India



Timing & Fees:

Safdarjung Tomb remains open all days, with an entree fee of Rs.5/- for Indians and Rs.100/- for foreigners. If you want to do a video shoot then need to pay extra Rs.25/-, still camera are free.