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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...
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...
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