ByRenee
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Behind The Lens
Location
This shot was actually taken at the zoo. My work gave me a gift of a behind the scenes tour as a reward for some good feedback we had received from a client. This particular section of the zoo was not open to the public so we got special close up access to the animals. It was a fantastic experience and I even got to pat a rhinoceros.Time
The tour began about half an hour before the zoo officially opened. This particular shot was taken probably about 8:45 in the morning.Lighting
It was a partially cloudy day so we had patches of sunshine and patches of cloud which made the lighting really nice and even for this particular shot. The Cheetah also happened to be standing under a tree at the time so her face was beautifully lit as you can see.Equipment
This was a walk around tour so I didn't have my heavy backpack with me I simply had my body (canon 700D) and two lenses. This shot was taken with the 24-105 lens. I find it a great option for versatility and I most often use it as my go to lens if i am not sure exactly what photo opportunities I will be presented with.Inspiration
I love animals in general and the big cats to me have such a grace and elegance about them that I love to watch them play. I was given the chance to actually pat this cheetah as a birthday present almost a year earlier and she was such a beautiful creature. She loved being stroked and she even tried to sniff my face, except the keepers would not allow it. So i guess I feel a greater bond with this particular cheetah and I really wanted to get a shot of her that captured her gentle nature as well as the awe of being so close to such a powerful animal.Editing
There is not much post processing on this shot actually. I upped the contrast and vibrancy of the colour but that was about it.In my camera bag
I always have my Canon 700D and my trusty 24-105 with me no matter where I go but other than that I depends a lot on how much walking I will have to do, How close to the car I will be and what I expect to find wherever I happen to be going. I like to have as much of my kit as close by as I can without having to carry it but if i am on the move I will take as little as possible. Although no matter where I go I always have a spare battery, spare memory card, cleaning cloth and some cash on me so if anything goes wrong I can get myself out of a sticky situation. Water is also a good option if you have to walk anywhere.Feedback
Don't get so caught up in getting the best picture that you forget to appreciate the animal. I find watching them for a while before you pull out your camera gives you a bit of insight into th nature of the animal and then you understand better how to capture them on camera.