Mother & Son
Aug, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was taken at Chester Zoo in England. I am a self taught photographer and was very excited to capture this beautiful scene.Time
This was taken mid morning when the zoo opens to the public. Fortunately the enclosure for the elephants is one of the first, so I was able to pick a prime location, with the sun behind me and wait for the subjects to form a striking composition.Lighting
Ensuring before I went to the zoo that the weather was forecast as "sunny", I made sure I picked a location with the sun behind me, allowing to get as much detail of the skin texture as possible. I knew this was important, because it would create a far more detailed image in monochrome once edited.Equipment
This image was shot on a Canon 600D, using a Canon EF-S 55-250mm telephoto lens. No tripod or flash was necessary for this particular shot.Inspiration
I love photographing animals, with their sincere expressions and natural beauty. In particular, I enjoy taking photographs of animals with interesting textures to their skin (reptiles, elephants etc.) but I was also looking to take a photograph that portrays emotion and the relationships that exist between animals. When this mother came face to face with her infant, I knew I had snapped a picture that captured something special.Editing
With this photograph, there was actually an unavoidable large mound of sand in front of the two elephants, so I had to crop this out. After dealing with that, I brushed out the busy background into black, in order to make the elephants the true focus of this photograph. Finally, turning the image black and white and tweaking the contrast and brightness levels to achieve the final look.In my camera bag
My equipment is fairly basic, but my bag always includes the 600D camera body, a Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens, a Canon EF 50mm prime lens and a Canon 55-250mm telephoto lens, for detail from further away. I also have an external flash, but I rarely use that as most of my photography is done outside using natural light. I also have a battery pack fitted to my camera, which allows for simultaneous use of two batteries at once. This is extremely useful, especially when you have to have patience for the perfect shot. Unfortunately you cannot ask animals to pose...Feedback
My advice would be to have patience and always have your camera settings ready and adjusted for the current lighting. It's always a good idea to have some drinks and snacks handy, especially if you intend to remain in one location for a long period of time. Warm and waterproof clothing is also essential in colder weather. There are times you will walk away without a single good shot, but don't be disheartened; another day with the same animals could yield many spectacular photographs. Finally, remember to actually enjoy the photography and witness the moment yourself.
