Coquerel’s Sifaka. I wonder what he is thinking?
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Feb, 2020Views
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Awards
2020 Choice Award
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Virtuoso
Magnificent Capture
Emotions
Impressed
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Behind The Lens
Location
I love to hang out at the New York (Bronx) Zoo on days when the weather isn’t so great and there are fewer people. Often, you can set up a tripod and watch the same animal(s) for as long as you want. My favorite places in the Zoo are by the Monkeys and Great Apes. These animals act so much like people it is amazing. Often you can lock eyes with them and feel them staring back at you. On this rainy afternoon, I set up my tripod up very close to the glass front of the “habitat”. As soon as I started, this male Coquerel’s Sifaka leaned forward on the branch that was supporting him so that he could watch me more closely, then stared at me as I set up my tripod and mounted my camera. As I leaned forward to look through he lens, he settled back onto the branch and assumed the pose that you see in the picture. I took off the lens cap and put my face to lens ... and we locked eyes. For the longest time, we maintained eye-contact without moving ... we stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity (but, in reality, it was a little over 10 minutes). All I could think about was, “what in the world was he thinking.” I was so mesmerized that after the first exposure (which you see) I forgot to take more. Luckily it was a wonderful capture.Time
It was early afternoon on a grey, drizzly day. However, we were indoors at the time of this encounter.Lighting
Not really, this was shot on Auto. I Would normally have started to change settings on subsequent shots, but as described above, I didn’t take any other exposures at this location.Equipment
Nikon D5300 with a Nikkor prime AF-S 24-70 2.8 lens, using available lighting. Camera was mounted my trusty old Monfrotto tripod. No flash, available light.Inspiration
I spend a lot of time practicing with my camera at the Bronx Zoo. If you spend time with most animals, you will be amazed at how intelligent they seem. You can wordlessly interact with them. They seem so ‘people-like’ that I plan my shots the same way I strategize my human portraits. I think this is one of my most successful portraits.Editing
I am an obsessive cropper. I trim my images as closely as the capture would allow, made minor lighting adjustments, and pushed the clarity and colors a bit.In my camera bag
I am 73 and tend to travel light. Most of the time I carry a Monopod, but on this outing I brought an old Monfrotto tripod because I planned to make just a few stops and stay at each setup for an extended period of time. In addition, I have a small belt-pouch to carry lens my cleaning kit, 2-4 filters, spare batteries and lens caps and a can of window spray so that I can clean the outside of the glass that provides access to the habitat.Feedback
Any advice related this image is included in the comments above. If you have any questions about any of my images, please feel free to send me a message. For additional information, go to MMKImagineNation.com.
