Pensive Gorilla
Jul, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.Time
It was getting towards the end of the day and the sun was lower in the sky. This guy was mostly in the shadows but as the sun tipped down below the trees, it lit up his face and the front of him. The photo turned out even more stunning than it was in real life (which isn't usually the way it happens).Lighting
I think that this image would be less stunning had he been fully in the sun and I could capture all his details. The beauty of this photo is in the mystery. As my photo coach used to say - it's called giving up the bird. That means that you can take a photo of something without capturing every detail - you give up the bird to get the sense of the bird (or gorilla as the case may be)Equipment
This was shot with my Nikon D7000 and a 500mm lens to capture him at the back of his enclosure.Inspiration
I am so fascinated by gorillas and their similarities to humans. While I don't like taking photos of humans, I don't have to ask permission of the gorillas.Editing
I didn't do any post-processing. The photo didn't need it and I try not to touch a photo outside of the camera if I got it right initially.In my camera bag
I am a light traveler. I generally have my camera body and two lenses. Depending on what I'm planning on capturing, I'll almost always have my 20-200 and then I'll either pack my macro lens or my 500mm. If I'm going to be inside, I'll pack a flash or two and my cowboy studio set or flash cord to get the flash off camera.Feedback
I guess I'd go back to the "losing the bird" advice. Don't try to lighten up so much that you capture all the detail. I think this photo wouldn't be as strong without the silhouette quality. I've done other photos where I blow it out the other direction. Don't try to be so technically correct every time.
