A day at the zoo... please critique!

[Anders Östberg]

Visited the local zoo today - something I don't really enjoy, maybe I feel for the animals - but I got some pics of various animals.
Please critique, I need some feedback!
- Anders


My favourite picture first, a Ferret:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2626.jpg

A Wolverine:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2612.jpg

A Eurasian Eagle Owl (Huuuh-huuuuh!):
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2619.jpg

A Crow (technically not a zoo inmate, but he was on the premises :) ):
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2616.jpg

A Great Cormorant:
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2601.jpg

A Heron (cold :) ):
http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2628.jpg

Finally, there was a (very) male Baboon, which I won't show inline.
If you're not offended by primate anatomy - click here (http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2586.jpg) - but remember I warned you! :p

[dphoto]

Wow, the shots of the wolverine and the cormorant are absolutely beautiful! In fact, they are perfect in my opinion. If you don't mind sharing, what lens and camera settings did you use to take those shots?

The other shots are nice as well, but those two in particular are spectacular. Good job, and thanks for sharing!

-Deva

[garethhhhh]

You have some very noice shots here, all very sharp.
My favourites are the ferret & the cormorant.
Had I not seen the second one I would have never known that these animals were in captivity.

Great job!!!

PS. To anyone who reads this thread.
DO NOT click the link to see the baboon, he's not kidding.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[ecobo]

Wonderful photos! I realy like the first one, but they are all so natural. Good job! By the way, what lens have you used?

[SoCal69]

I have to agree, all of these are wonderful shots! In particular, I liked the Cormorant and Wolverine. I also would like to know what you used to shoot these!

[dphoto]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... thanks for the shot of the baboon. That is classic! :)

-Deva

[G3]

Great shots, all of them. If I had any critique, it would be that the wolverine, the owl and the crow may have benefitted from some fill-flash.

[Anders Östberg]

Thanks for your kind words!!

All pictures taken with my 10D and 100-400 lens. The settings follow below, they are all over the place as I was experimenting a bit. I did use fill flash for some pictures, but on these ones I think the fill was set too low to help much.

The ferret:
160mm, f/5.0, 1/1600s, ISO 400, -2/3 exposure, no flash

The wolverine:
220mm, f/8.0, 1/80s, ISO 100, -2/3 exposure, no flash

The eagle owl:
320mm, f/5.6, 1/400s, ISO 100, -1/3 exposure, fill flash probably at -2

The crow:
400mm, f/5.6, 1/800s, ISO 100, -1/3 exposure, fill flash probably at -2

The cormorant:
400mm, f/8, 1/800s, ISO 100, -1 exposure, no flash

The heron:
390mm, f/8, 1/320s, ISO 400, -2/3 exposure, no flash

[Dawg]

They are all great shots and the details and focus is just great on that Great Cormorant. I can even see the fuzz on the beak from grooming himself EXCELLENT.

Dawg 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

Please don't enter the wildlife contest :lol: :lol: :twisted:

[Anders Östberg]

By the way, I don't normally enjoy zoo photos very much, and I try to exclude any pics where the artificial environment shows. The wolverine I included anyway as I couldn't get a clean angle, I liked the pose and it's just an awesome animal. They were running around all the time so this was the best I could do. It might be possible to edit out the fence in the background, but I didn't want to do it this time.

[mr_clean001]

I love the shot of the wolverine. All the shots are really crisp and nicely done.

[Dawg]

:shock:

[Anders Östberg]

:shock:

Did you just click the monkey link ?
I did warn you !!!

:D :D :D

[shniks]

Beautiful shots. They are so clear and sharp, and I love the colours. The baboon is really funny, and I have never seen a wolverine before!

[martcol]

Awesome, beautiful and another fine reason for me to get the 100-400 lens.

I like them all but the one-legged bird is my favourite. The Babboon reminds me of my teenage sons.

I am desperately trying to thik of something to critique you know, a tad crop here, Hmmm, ah, was it hand held and if so... But why bother? They're great photos.

Martin

[Anders Östberg]

shniks, Martin, thank you very much for looking and liking! :)

I'm overwhelmed by the response, I must have done something right...

I've not been that happy with most of my pictures up til now, but I think maybe I'm getting a couple of things together - camera settings, how to handle the longer lens, post-processing in Photoshop, and last but not least there's finally some decent sunlight here up north!

Practice makes... better. :)


Here's one more that didn't quite make it, the light wasn't as good and the depth of field I think too shallow to get all three faces sharp. Unfortunate as the ferrets posed so nicely. I still like it but it could have been great... :(

http://www.interimlocation.com/fretnomore/photo/10D/pictures/zoo/skansen_20040229/skansen_2624.jpg

[martcol]

Those ferret things look down in the mouth - maybe they've heard I don't have that kick-ass lens!
:cry:
Martin