Camera Labs

trip to the local El Paso Zoo, TX. Not bad for a small city zoo.


El Paso Zoo Monkey by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Monkey by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Kingfisher by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Squirrel by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Sealion by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Giraffes by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Lion by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Mirecat by sherpa1d, on Flickr


El Paso Zoo Zebra Butts by sherpa1d, on Flickr

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

I find it difficult looking at photos taken at zoos but I'll try and I have a couple of comments on the set.

There are some good images in here and some really nice quirky ones. There is a 'butt' joke in there to be made I'm sure!!

But some of the images I think you should not have posted as they are not quite up to the mark.

The Wolf one for instance is just a snap. There is nothing interesting about it other than its a wolf.

The bird shot afterwards is similar, that twig is just in the way.

The elephant is another thats just a snap as is the lion behind the grass.

Remove these from the set and I think the whole feeling of quality will go up dramatically

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

Thanks Ian, took your recommendations.

Zoos aren't my favorite either but I just haven't been able to go look for real wildlife, specially here in the desert. The main thing I'm doing is practice with my 70-300

My wife and I think the Giraffes were actually fighting. They would lock legs like that then push each others heads around then one finally bounded away. The Zebras were just too funny like that.

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

Hi Mike,
Nice set of pics. Zebra is my fav!

Tamron 70-300 works like a charm...I bought after checking with u!!

I tried it at the local zoo as well....but unfortunately it started raining so couldn't cover all the animals..

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Cheers!
Arun

Nikon D3100
Tamron SP 17-50 f/2.8 non VC
Tamron SP 70-300

That does look a much stronger set now.

Questions. The monkey shots, is the white balance off? Were these shot indoors?

While the photo of the seal is obviously through glass its a lovely picture. Its one of those shots that would have been a show stopper.

The others are great, nice compositions, sharp and fill the frame etc etc. The butt shots add that bit extra to the set

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

Yeap, the 2 monkeys were indoors and I'm sure I did not change the white balance and I wasn't shooting in RAW. I could probably touch them up a bit but I have had a long day so far on my 24-hr duty. Might go back thru this weekend. The second ones face should be pure white.

I wish the zebra on the left had his head in line with the others, I waited but they started moving away.

I do have some more of the sea lion. Those were funny, if you ran your hand near the glass they thought you had food and would shake their head back and forth and snap.

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS

i personally liked all your photos , this lens seems to be a killer lens for the price

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Canon EOS 5D mk III|Canon EOS 7D | 70-200 F2.8 L IS II USM | 400 F5.6 L USM

Well, it has done me well on the captive animals but it has been a little slow catch focus on some wild hawks i've been trying to catch. Ulitimatly, yes for the price i love it and would recommend it.

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS