canberra zoo

Took a trip to the zoo whilst we where in the capital. It was the first time out with my new 100-400L

The tiger isn't as sharp as I'd like, but I waited and waited and waited for him to do something.......anythi​ng. So when he finally lifted his head I was looking the other way of course, so the actual shot was a bit rushed they need to feed them red bull on the weekends

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Wow - sharp colors! NIce captures

Nice grouping! The only zoo that isn't worth going to is the zoo called the Las Vegas Strip on Friday and Saturday nights; the traffic can be a zoo! Glad you had a great time. Nice colors, and good separation from the backgrounds.

bwc: I'd love to visit Las Vegas at least once, but I can only imagine what you mean!

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Do you think I did a good job composing the giraffe?
I really am trying to get this whole composition thing sorted, it is at the top of the list on "things I need to improve" and I actually saw what I wanted before I took the shot. I only had to crop it a little more from my original idea. that's the bit I'm proud of! The fact it's sharp is a bonus

I would have liked to have more blur on the fence of the tiger, but I was a long way away, and the fence was right near his butt.....and he was a lazy bugger!

The composition is pretty good, but the giraffe's face may be a bit too far to the left. Have you heard of the rule of thirds? That is the best way to start with composition practice. It helps the eye focus on the right parts of the image, and it makes it very appealing.

The thirds rule what I was trying to do , stick his head in the top third and have a "diagonal" (his neck) which came from the bottom right. So do I want the centre of his head more to the middle you think? move it down more too, or is the height OK?

I think the head is a bit too far to the left - you want it where the lines that separate the view into thirds. Not in the box that represents that section, but where the lines intersect. Maybe a head's width towards the middle and you would be on the lines.
It doesn't sound like much, but it has made a difference in my images.

Aahh, now the penny has dropped! Here I am thinking it's supposed to be IN the box!

Cheers

I thought the same thing when I started. I have been amazed at the difference when you put the main subject on the intersection of the lines. Try it with some of your pics. Crop them so the main point is at an intersection - I think you will like it a lot!
Also, which camera do you have?

Love the colors. Nice sharp shots.

Keltab: I had another go at cropping it. This edit may be a bit different as I saved the originally cropped Tiff and may havedone some stuff in PS that I did differently this time. The 1/3 intersect goes right through the centre of his (her?) head.
I can't change the right side or bottom of the image as it's the original border.

I also had a play with this red panda shot, trying the same third rules. I originally wasn't going to do anything with this shot as it's not as sharp as I would have liked shutter was too slow and I wasn't still enough, but I thought I'd post it anyway for a composition C&C to go with the modified giraffe crop.


I am using a 50D with my 2 weeks new 100-400L

DDWD10: Thanks, and yes, the colors I am getting out of this lens blows me away. I love using it!

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I like those a lot! Great work!
With the 50D, you can order a focusing screen that has the Thirds marked.

The link below is to B&H's website for the focusing screen. It has really helped me with making my horizon straight, and for remembering the rule of thirds...

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Focusing_Scree​n_for.html

Keep up the good work! Enjoy your new camera and lens - looks like you have a great combination!

Oh yeah - I spent 9 days in Canberra back in 2002 for a conference my wife attended. That is where I bought my first SLR! I didn't get to the zoo, but Tidbinbilla (IIRC) Nature Preserve was great, and the Deep Space Science Center was awesome! And Gungahlin Lakes Golf Course too