Photo
Mar, 2016Views
1976
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Awards
Action Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Textures In Animals Photo Contest
Member Selection Award
Featured
Spring Selection Award
Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 8
Staff Favorite
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
All Star
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Calgary Zoo. I love taking photos of wildlife, however, with 2 small kids it can be hard to get out into nature on photography excursions, so the zoo offers a nice alternative to this.Time
I took this photo in the late afternoon/early evening. This is a great time for taking photos, the animals are more active because they are being fed, and the natural light is at its' best.Lighting
Having taken this picture in the early evening the lighting was nice and soft. The cougar was facing into the light, so it lit up its' face and gave a nice clarity to the eye.Equipment
I used a handheld Sony DSLR A330 camera for this picture.Inspiration
I love photographing animals and nature. There is always a challenge and unpredictability about them. I enjoy trying to capture something out of the ordinary with animals, and also a bit of their personality. I find if you sit around watching them long enough they are bound to show you something about themselves.Editing
I used post-processing to turn my colored image into a black and white. Because this photo was taken at the zoo behind glass I did get a bit of reflection in the image. I was able to minimize this by adjusting the sharpness, details and clarity in my processing.In my camera bag
Being an amateur, I don't yet have a wide range of cameras and lenses. I'm currently using a Nikon D5200. I have two lenses, the Nikkor 18-55mm, and the Nikkor 70-300mm. Between these two lenses I find they can cover a nice range of shots, from close-ups, to wide landscapes.Feedback
If you are shooting at the Zoo, the best time of day is either early in the morning or late afternoon/early evening. This is when you will have the best lighting and the animals tend to be most active. Some zoos offer programs for photographers that allow them early access to get the animals at their best, without the crowds of people. This way you can get setup, and really take your time getting that perfect shot. When shooting animals I like to make sure there is lots of natural light, and try and capture them when they are facing into it. Because they are usually moving around, I like to use a high shutter speed, in order to avoid blurring, and to capture a nice sharp image.
