Your top 12 Zoo Photographs of 2019

Messages
5,184
Name
Fi
Edit My Images
Yes
As the year is drawing to a close I thought it would be interesting to see all of your top 12 zoo shots of 2019. I want to know where they were taken, why you personally like them and what kit you used. How does everyone feel about their year - anything you were hoping to achieve and did? Any new kit that changed how you shoot? Things that looking back you think you'd like to work on next year?

The main thing that changed for me this year was getting my new long lens (Sigma 150-600 C) in August. Still on the learning curve of getting the most out of it but just the extra reach alone opened up new and improved opportunities and the image quality when I get it right is a step up from what I am used to (particularly at higher ISO). I do feel a bit like I have been losing my tog mojo over the last few years and it was good to breathe a bit of new life into things. Anyway, onto my 12.... in no particular order:

1. This little Genet was exceptionally friendly and interested in the camera which made for a very memorable interaction. I was really pleased with the eye contact on this one and the fact I'd managed to get a good clean background.
Taken at All Things Wild 12/09/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 Af-s.
ƒ/4.8, 155mm, 1/250, ISO 400

AllThingsWild_20190912_170219 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

2. A recent shot of a young Brown Spider Monkey - reason I like this is simple. Spiders monkeys are my favorite monkey and this one is so very cute!
Taken at Bristol Zoo 05/12/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 Af-s.
ƒ/5.0, 180mm, 1/160, ISO 400

Bristol_20191205_131624a by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

3. I love this one because it is my first shot of Indali (on the right) after her brush with the EEHV virus. Knowing what the herd and keepers have been through with this in the past - I honestly got quite emotional seeing the little elephant that lived playing happily with her brother.
Taken at Chester Zoo 07/09/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Sigma 150-600 C
ƒ/7.1, 240mm, 1/1000, ISO 400

Chester_20190907_103658 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

4. Another shot from Chester - chosen because it was my first outing with the new lens and this is one of my first 'successful' efforts using the lens at nearly full stretch and hand held. And also - who doesn't love a bear???
Taken at Chester Zoo 07/09/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Sigma 150-600 C
ƒ/6.3, 550mm, 1/320, ISO 500

Chester_20190907_155319a by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

5. This is Taiga and one of her cubs and again is a 'success with the new lens' choice. I had realised that hand holding the lens was proving challenging so this outing was the first time I'd used my monopod set up. I fashioned a belt thing out of an old camera strap and used the monopod supported at my waist on the belt. It worked really well and I was really pleased that it allowed me to wait patiently with the camera in position for this moment.
Taken at Colchester Zoo 04/10/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Sigma 150-600 C
ƒ/6.3, 220mm, 1/500, ISO 400

Colchester_20191004_103317 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

6. I think this is easily my technically 'best' shot of the year and I was very happy with the composition. I went to CWP with shooting for their photography contest in mind and this was a shot I knew I wanted to get. I've been trying to be more intentional with my shooting this year and I feel like it worked out in this instance.
Taken at Cotswold Wildlife Park 13/09/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Sigma 150-600 C
ƒ/8, 310mm, 1/1250, ISO 320

CWP_20190913_141316_01 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

Part 2 in my next post...
 
Last edited:
7. Patience and determination got this shot of a very elusive Margay. I love all cats and Margay are one of my favourites. This was a really challenging enclosure and a very fleeting opportunity. I was happy to capture it at all!
Taken at Exmoor Zoo 11/05/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 AF-s
ƒ/5.3, 230mm, 1/250, ISO 200

Exmoor_20190511_152728 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr


8. Again - being more intentional. Thinking about the light and waiting for the owl to perch where I was hoping he would to get the background I wanted. It worked :)
Taken at Hamerton Zoo 23/08/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 AF-s
ƒ/4.8, 155mm, 1/400, ISO 200

Hamerton_20190823_124438 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

9. Not necessarily the best shot - but I was very excited to find the male koala at Longleat had ventured outside. I did not expect this at all on a not very warm day. It brings back good memories of a lovely day.
Taken at Longleat 12/05/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 AF-s
ƒ/5.6, 250mm, 1/250, ISO 200

Longleat_20190512_105528 by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

10. Another thing I have been attempting to do this year is shoot successfully at higher ISO. This shot was taken indoors and the target was moving - so I knew I had to up the ISO to for the shutter speed to get anything useful. It worked out - Saltwater crocodile on the hunt... bagged.
Taken at Thrigby Hall 01/07/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 AF-s
ƒ/4.5, 80mm, 1/400, ISO 640

Thrigby Hall_20190701_123818b by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

11. Another somewhat soppy reason for this choice - Nimbus the Cloudy used to live at Cotswold Wildlife Park. I was very happy with this shot of a familiar friend. Love it when I manage to capture the eye contact.
Taken at Thrigby Hall 01/07/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Nikon 70-300 AF-s
ƒ/5.6, 140mm, 1/400, ISO 400

Thrigby Hall_20190701_155153a by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

12. As my togging mojo went a bit south I realised I needed to start trying to challenge myself to get some 'different' shots - and this is one of those shots. Just trying to use the available light in a slightly more creative way by standing back and assessing things beforehand and then waiting for the subject to (hopefully) find themselves where you want them to be. This was a good opportunity as the lions were waiting for food and I could watch their movements and set myself up for the particular shot when the keepers arrived.
Taken at Yorkshire Wildlife Park 26/10/2019 with Nikon D7000 & Sigma 150-600 C
ƒ/8, 250mm, 1/250, ISO 250

YWP_20191026_153653a by Daysleeper40, on Flickr

So that's my year in 12 shots... what about yours???
 
Adjustments.JPGAdjustments.JPGAdjustments.JPG

These were all taken at Hamerton Zoo in September. I use a Canon 6 d, and a 70-200 2.8L.
I took loads ( as you do) all taken through the wire fences, and on a really hot sunny day, bright sunshine throughout. I like these ones because they turned out ok, in spite of the conditions!
 
Last edited:
Fi these are some of your best images of the zoo animals I have seen, all beautifully taken and all could of come out of an animal magazine as fantastic shots the lot of them :clap::clap:

Thanks Dave - you're far to kind ;)
 
Back
Top