Portrait of a mandrill
Jul, 2016Views
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Outstanding Creativity
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Behind The Lens
Location
I love photography a lot. Now and then I set myself tasks or projects to accomplish. That time it was something like "to take a few worthy animal portraits in zoos". This mandrill female was shot in the Moscow Zoo.Time
the picture was taken indoors some time after the monkeys were well fed. This, perhaps, helped my model stay calm for awhile. It looked content and untroubled.Lighting
Lighting was a nuisance. While being OK for visitors to the animals it was problematic for taking pictures. I had to wait for some time before the monkey sat down in about the only relatively well lit place, light going down from more or less directly overhead.Equipment
Canon 5D Mark III. 70-200 F4. No flash (never use it), no tripod.Inspiration
Animals are clever and observant. Each and every one has individuality. Like humans really. To take portraits of animals may be just as inspiring and rewarding as taking portraits of people.Editing
My post-processing typically include some curves and levels adjustments and adding a bit of saturation.In my camera bag
I pretty much always carry around Canon lenses 16-35 F4, 28-70 F2,8 and 70-200 F2,8. My body is 5D Mark III. The second body is 5D. It is only now that I have started carrying around a Manfrotto tripod. I have to admit it has already payed off.Feedback
Taking good animal portraits in a zoo may be tricky as the animals rarely feel like posing. It takes patience and some observation before you get ready for the best shot. If you like animals this is an extra enjoyment.
