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Chip - Silverback Gorilla - Detroit Zoo
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Behind The Lens
Location
Chipua "Chip" is a Western Lowland Silverback Gorilla who lives at the Detroit Zoo. He gave me his time, let me take a number of great shots, and then like the celebrity he is, he moved around the boulder out of sight.Time
Midday. Chip was hidden in a shadow from a large boulder.Lighting
The mote between us had a brightly painted wall that brightened Chip's face.Equipment
Canon Rebel 3i with a Canon 400mm lensInspiration
Chip did. It was completely serendipitous. I was not looking for him. The gorillas usually find a place to stay from the public eye. I was just minding my own business in the shade of trees across a moat outside of the gorilla habitat, and he came around a large boulder and sat. I tried to get his attention but he kept looking away, clearly annoyed by my intrusion until he heard my camera clicking. Chip then became a very gracious subject. What drew me to him was his eyes.Editing
Very little. I lightened his face just a bit.In my camera bag
I normally carry Nikon gear with much smaller lenses. It just happened that I had the Canon and long lens, rented for another shoot when my kids wanted to go to the zoo.Feedback
None. This was happenstance. The right camera and lens in hand when a completely unexpected situation opened an opportunity. I believe that if I had prepared for this, the shot would have never happened.