Couple from Australia Zoo

[Greg_C]

Took the family to Australia Zoo today and gave my new 70-200 IS a try out. The Otters were never still for more than a second and very hard to capture. I wish this one was just a tad sharper. I needed to be a bit faster with the shutter speed to stop the motion more. I love the front "hands".

They are teaching the Tigers to climb a large pole in the enclosure. See the mesh in the background - wonder when they decide that they can climb this??? I suppose the two rows of electric wire at the top will change their minds. Steve Irwin was even their in person to cheer his daughter on in her own show!


70-200 mm at 200.00 mm 1/125 s at F 2.80 with ISO 400

http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image12221.jpg


70-200 mm at 195.00 mm 1/400 s at F 4.00 with ISO 100

http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image12222.jpg

[mijbril]

That tiger looks quite pleased with himself :)

[Greg_C]

Yes, he'd just finished the snack they used to tempt him to climb the pole.

[Steve in bris]

Greg

I was at Australia Zoo and i saw a guy walking around with a great white lens. Must have been you....Anyway great shots and much better than the ones i managed to take.

Regards

Steve

[Greg_C]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the comments. Probably was me, I didn't see anyone else there with a white L lens on Sunday. Got some funny looks from people. Also my right bicep and the top of my left pecs ached a bit the next day from the weight of the camera and lens.

I stuffed up a lot of shots, just had the shutter speed to slow for a long lens. Not used to it so I continued on shooting how I would with my 24-105. 1/80s on a 105 lens is more forgiving than 1/80s on a 200 even with IS. The day wasn't a failure though at least I can learn from my mistakes.

This is one I liked from the Rainforest Aviary. Almost got bird sh#t on the new lens. Standing there and smack it comes down not 2" in front of the lens. Looked up and there are two birds above me. Couple standing behind me thought it was a good laugh. I was able to laugh also becuase it missed. I would have been very p*ssed off it had off hit the end.


http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image12225.jpg

[Steve in bris]

Greg another good shot. I got one of this Parrot. Again not as good. I did have a very quick and very envious look at the lens as you walked past. I was going to ask what you though of the lens but i knew i would have been left wanting........alas the L glass will have to wait...!!!!!!!!!

[Greg_C]

I would have most likely said I didn't know at that time.;) It was only delivered last Friday. Sunday was the first major outing. I'm learning how to use the lens and the more i use it the more I like it. It was certainly a effort to save for it, but worth it.:)

[kylie]

Wow Geg, great pics. Was this a school holiday trip? Have wanted to get up there to the zoo with my crew, especially as it is soooo cooold down here at the moment.I belive it is an awsome zoo, very clean and tidy.

[JenzZx2]

I must admit, the otter made me LOL. He looks like a devilish little guy and that face reminds me of somebody that just played a cruel joke on a friend, lol.

[Nidz]

Crikey!

I had to say that. His daughter is gonna grow up to be very full of herself I think. He's still a good bloke. I hear most of the money they make goes back into wildlife conservation. The photos you took look pretty good. Nice and sharp and lots of bright colours.

[Greg_C]

Wow Geg, great pics. Was this a school holiday trip? Have wanted to get up there to the zoo with my crew, especially as it is soooo cooold down here at the moment.I belive it is an awsome zoo, very clean and tidy.
Its a great zoo, and yes it is very clean and tidy. The kids are are on school hols a the moment and we tend to go there about once a year. Wife and I considered getting a season pass - maybe next time. Little over an hour's drive for me, so this is not to bad. Movie World and Sea World are the other theme parks we go to also but not as often as Oz Zoo. Thanks for the comments.

[Carzee]

Great stuff Greg. Good king parrot or whatever and I like the tiger.

More pix?

[Greg_C]

I must admit, the otter made me LOL. He looks like a devilish little guy and that face reminds me of somebody that just played a cruel joke on a friend, lol.
The otters were just so full of energy. The food disappeared literrally in seconds. Thanks for looking.

[Greg_C]

Crikey!

I had to say that. His daughter is gonna grow up to be very full of herself I think. He's still a good bloke. I hear most of the money they make goes back into wildlife conservation. The photos you took look pretty good. Nice and sharp and lots of bright colours.
His daughter has her own show now! Bindi and the CrocMen. Only for the school holidays. I was good to see him there just supporting his daughter, just like any dad you could see he was rapt that Bindi was having fun performing. I agree, he does heaps for conservation both here and abroad.

[Greg_C]

Great stuff Greg. Good king parrot or whatever and I like the tiger.

More pix?
Thanks Carzee,
We missed most of the Cheetah show and I had to stand a couple of meters back from the glass wall. The reflections spoilt some good shots unfortunately. I've one shot with someone's head hovering above a Cheetahs back!

http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image12272.jpg

This guy just sat there with the wings in the air. Hands Up - Body search time.

http://www.steadyhands.net/photogallery/albums/temp/image12224.jpg

[andyanderson179]

great photos

[Nick C.]

Great shots Greg! Love the last shot of the bird. Nothing better then when the animals are willing to sit there and pose for you.

Did you take other lenses with you? I've just recently picked up the 70-200 and would like to get up there to give it a run. I was just wondering wether you found the need for either a shorter or longer focal length or can you get away with just the 70-200?

[Greg_C]

Great shots Greg! Love the last shot of the bird. Nothing better then when the animals are willing to sit there and pose for you.

Did you take other lenses with you? I've just recently picked up the 70-200 and would like to get up there to give it a run. I was just wondering wether you found the need for either a shorter or longer focal length or can you get away with just the 70-200?

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the comments. Yes I did take a bag full of gear with me. Didn't use any other stuff though. I've been there 3 times since going digital. Previous shoots were with either of Sigma 18-125 (so so results), Canon 24-85 (great lens) or the 75-300 IS (good lens). The 70-200 was an ok length, I didn't spend the whole time at either end ie 70 or 200. Could have gone wider a few times as I had to stand a way back to frame at 70mm. I was really trying to give the new lens a good go and try to use it in all situations. I replaced the 18-125 and 24-85 with the 24-105, it sat in the bag all day but its a sweet lens also.

[Greg_C]

great photos
thanks Andy

[Dale Siscoe]

Great photo's that parrot is very beautiful and vibrant!