DaggiM

Blowing up water

Polar bear in Hannover zoo

Polar bear in Hannover zoo
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OLYMPUS E-410

settings

Aperture f/0 ISO 200 Shutter 1/500 sec. Focal Length 105/1

upload_date

Jan, 2016

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1149

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this photo at our amazing Hanover zoo. Our polar bears just had fun in the water, then they wanted to dry in the warm afternoon sun. Luckily I caught one of the two brothers shaking the water out.

Time

It was in the afternoon, the light became warmer....the water was shimmering, the fur of the polar bears shined like silver and gold, the waterdrops on the bears sent glimpses of sunlight...it was a really wonderful scenery. The right time, the right place, I felt.

Lighting

As I said, the natural light was absolutely perfect! I don't like flashes at all, I am trying to use only available light in all my photos...exept the still lifes or special arrangements (nails, flowers, screws, water action with fruits asf), especially when I take photos of animals, I never use flashes. Really never. Outdoor or indoor - never. I have some spots at home - do-it-youself-spotlights and similar things - they are my equipment. Nothing more...since I am a real amateur photographer and I have fun in doing things myself not buying it for lots of money. ;)

Equipment

Ok....this photo is a bit older, I took it with my beloved Olympus E-410 and an Olympus Zuiko 18-180mm 1:3.5-6.3. No tripod, no flash. ;)

Inspiration

Hmmm....animals always inspire me. I am spending a lot of time watching them and trying to foresee, what they maybe will do next - they nearly always surprise me. I am choosing the right (hopefully) settings on my camera - and wait for the right moment. :) I always try to catch a unique (in my eyes) moment, maybe a very private moment, sometimes a moment when I feel a connection between the animal and me. It is hard to explain, really hard. By the way - excuse me for my bad english.

Editing

I am a fan of purity, so I try to limit processing as far as possible. Mostly I do some denoise, some sharpen, cutting maybe. I am trying to let the picture as it is. Of course I do some more on my other works (macro, flower closeups asf), but I have always an eye of it not to do more as necessary...not to loose ore to fake the authenticity.

In my camera bag

Ok...today I have a big pack at home, but when I go into nature I always have with me my Nikon D7200 with my Sigma 18-250mm on it. 1 additional battery pack...and - ready. When I go to zoo or something similar, I'll take my Nikon 55-300 lens with me. When I go out to take some night shots or sunsets/sunrises...of course a tripod. That's it. I am a fan of photography, not of carrying loads of equipment. *lol*

Feedback

This is a difficult question. Always is one thing - no, two things - needed: luck and patience. When you want to make animal photography, you can have the biggest and best camera, the best place, the best time, the perfect light...but the animals are not in the mood to do anything - bad luck. Use a good - better a better - sd-card (fast and with lots of gb!) and continuous high speed. You will see, 80% of the photos you will take are simply trash. But you will do it for the ONE shot, the ONE shot, that hit the right movement in the right millisecond. Always keep an eye on the focus and the light...be mobile - free moving, agile to follow the movements of the animal. Wait for the perfect moment. If this moment won't come....come again next day and the next day. Don't give up! This is the most important point - never, never give up! It will fit. If not today - then tomorrow. Yours, Daggi

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DaggiM

DaggiM

Blowing up water

Polar bear in Hannover zoo

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow DaggiM

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