There’s nothing like a bath in a fresh stream.
At least, that’s what I thought this buffalo weaver seemed to be saying when I took his photo.
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Tag Archives: animal photography
Goofy Guy?
Does this photo show that this otter is a goofy guy?
Or, does it show that he is care-free and fun-loving?
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Water, Please
To me, it was a hot day to be out capturing photos.
Apparently this elk agreed with me.
She appeared to be begging for water.
Cloudless Sulfur
As I captured this photo, it occurred to me that it’s name, Cloudless Sulfur, does makes sense.
Not all butterfly names make sense to me.
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Curiosity Killed the Cat
My photo reminded me of the expression, “Curiosity killed the cat.”
I think it means that sometimes our curiosity can get us into trouble.
As a photographer, I like exploring, so I’ll take the risk.
Besides, the second half of the expression is, “Satisfaction brought him back.”
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Prickly Sleeper
I’m taking a nap with no worries.
Everyone has learned that it’s best to leave me alone when I’m sleeping.
Not paying attention to my warning could teach them what it’s like to deal with a prickly sleeper.
Flower Power
I captured an image that made me remember the expression Flower Power.
I think it was a way to encourage peaceful protests.
Often people just wore flowers to look “cool.”
Do you think our little gorilla friend would look cool wearing a flower?
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Zippity Zoo Da!
Taking photos at the Zoo can be relaxing while providing some challenges. Here are a few tips to consider. 
Know the Zoo Rules: Before you arrive, find out the rules. For instance, you cannot use any KC Zoo photos for commercial purposes.
While there, don’t block paths or expect people to stop because you want to take a photo.
Identify a Point of Interest: What about the animal interests you?
Be sure to approach your shot to take advantage of your point of interest.
Radi is one of my favorite subjects. What interests me about him is his attitude.
Manage Distracting Elements:
A good first option is to shoot 
from angles that have natural looking elements around the animal.
If you can’t avoid the distracting elements, try using wide apertures, a telephoto lens, and a tight focus on the animal. This will tend to defocus bars or other barriers between you and the animal
A third option is to use the distracting element as part of your composition. I like the way the barriers in this shot convey a sense of passage.
Focus on the Eyes:
When you get the eyes in focus in a prominent
place in your photo, it creates a better connection between your subject and the viewer. I had a difficult time looking away from the tiger’s eyes.
Watch for Antics:
Animals sometimes do funny things. Be on the lookout for those. 
For some reason the koala reminded me of a rock star intently focused on his performance.
If you haven’t been to the Zoo recently, consider adding it to your list.
P.S. You get bonus points if you can name the song that this post title used for a play on words.
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