As a parent of two young children, there isn’t as much time for photography as there used to be. I often go weeks without making an image that isn’t one of the kids. But all that changed when I discovered the joys of a zoo membership.
If you have young kids of a certain age, they are probably fascinated with animals. If you’re a photographer, chances are that you, too, have a fascination with animals, or at least have a passing fascination with photographing them.
I relish my time at the zoo. It’s excellent fun for the kids, but it’s also a place that’s basically tailor-made for good photography. Yes, the scenes may be the same ones everyone else is getting, but the photos are as much about the moments captured as it is the background. So many animals have such human-like behaviors and expressions that you get something unique each time.
It’s also an opportunity to dust off some of my gear that sits in between my full-frame cameras I use for jobs and the cell phone I use to take photos of the kids every day. Here are some of the things I usually carry.
One-Inch Sensor Cameras
While I’ve never rolled heavy with a full-frame DSLR and 400mm telephoto lens with kids in tow (because those 400s never fit easily in a diaper bag), I have taken one-inch sensor cameras like the Canon PowerShot G3 X or the G9 X. The beauty of this size sensor is that it’s significantly larger than a cell phone, which affords some image quality improvements and shallow depth-of-field possibilities, but is still small enough to be portable while still achieving a lot of zoom with small-ish fixed lenses. The 600mm equivalent in the G3 X is a meaningful amount of zoom and while the G9 X isn’t even close, not all days have you zooming across a field to find a giraffe.
The output from a Canon PowerShot G3 X and its 1-inch sensor.
Micro Four Thirds
More often, though, I’ll bust out the Micro Four Thirds bodies and lenses. While my Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm lens is a great all-in-one lens that will give me a 280mm equivalent field of view, I often go with the Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 lens for the shallow depth of field it affords me. A lens like this is perfect for the zoo because it’s small, light and sharp even wide open, something that’s important when you only have a few chances for a photo before you realize the kids have wandered off and you didn’t see where they went. It’s the lens I used on an Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II to take the photo of the Bronx Zoo baboon at the top of this post.
While both of these types of cameras (1-inch and Micro Four Thirds) sit below APS-C and full-frame in size, both punch above their weight, especially in the Micro Four Thirds system when you use a good lens.
A zoo membership is one of the things that’s helped me bring back some of the fun in photography I used to have when I had more time to merely have fun with it. As a bonus, this particular membership will get me into a couple of other zoos and aquariums in the area, and so that means more photography — I mean family — outings in the future.
These places are great to take the camera, even if the kids stay home! lol! Zoos and rescues are excellent for practicing your "wildlife" shots. Just remember that most have strict policies about any kind of commercial photography (and no tripods).
My local zoos don't mind tripods as long as you aren't obstructing traffic. Make sure you check with the zoo if you are worried about that, as it may differ.
No thanks, I will never give my money to someone who cages animals for recreational purposes
Many zoos also engage in wildlife conservation efforts. For example, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro is responsible for the 38 remaining red wolves in the wild. Their efforts in captive breeding have paved the way to the reintroduction of this species. Without them, the red wolf would be extinct in the wild.
Similarly, the Bali Mynah is a nearly extinct bird species (with estimates ranging from 50-100 left in the wild). Most of the zoo which I frequent are involved in the Bali mynah Species Survival Plan (which is a captive breeding program to save them from extinction). While their population is sparse in the wild, over 1000 are currently alive in captivity.
Zoos are more than a place to look at animals. They're a fantastic resource for learning about wildlife, inspiring future generations of animal lovers, and the central hub for most wildlife conservation efforts.
Support your local zoos. They do so much for the animals we love.
unfortunately, 99% of zoos are different from what you describe
Name one of them! And you know that because you never have been?
If zoos were places engaged in wildlife conservation they won't be called zoos, they'd be called "natural parks" or "rehabilitation facility". Btw just to name one: the zoo in Bangkok... Now shut up with that bullshit
I visit the zoo twice a month since it makes for great exercise and a fantastic opportunity for animal photography. Plus, by supporting your local zoos, you are helping with wildlife conservation efforts.
Support your zoo and save some animals while getting some great photos.