It only takes a trip to the zoo.
A trip to the Greenville Zoo or the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia costs a few dollars compared to a few thousands of dollars for a trip to Tanzania.
The animals at the zoo are often better photographic subjects because they are in better condition since they don’t have to fight for their food or find shelter.
At zoos, you are more likely to get the animal in the right pose or even see the animal at all.
Some tips:
Go early or stay late. The best light for photography is in the early morning or a couple hours before sunset. The animals are usually more active in the morning when it’s cooler. Save the indoor exhibits for photographing in the mid-day when the light is harsh.
Focus on the eyes. The eyes are the focal point and they must be in focus.
When shooting through the fence, get as close to the fence as possible. Use a telephoto lens and zoom in as far as you can. Shoot wide open, using the largest aperture (which actually is the smallest numbered f-stop) to get a shallow depth of field. Even if the fence is visible in your photo, it won’t be as noticeable.
When shooting through glass, change your angle of view until most or all of the glare disappears. If you have to use flash, it’s best to use it off-camera so you can hold it at an angle.
Be patient.
