Bandung's Zoo

[mingkywingky]

I'm not used to do wildlife. I just wanted to try it. Even though I could only do it at the zoo;) I tried to capture them while they're looking at the camera, no crop.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2173/5799482760_9737ef5bfe_b.jpg
f5.6, 1/125s, ISO400, 76mm

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5798934527_329aa56f37_b.jpg
f5.6, 1/250s, ISO200, 250mm

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/5799486308_9e6e545656_b.jpg
f5.6, 1/60s, ISO200, 194mm

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5240/5799488070_eef6f1a842_b.jpg
f5.6, 1/125s, ISO200, 187mm

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/5798939605_a4f7047677_b.jpg
f4.5, 1/90s, ISO200, 135mm

Thanks for taking a look.
C&C are appreciated.

[Kaye]

Hi Tenny,
I have not done many animal shots, but to me these are all lovely with nice composition.
I think my favourites would have to be the tiger and the bear... nice eye focus and eye contact here.
It is a pity the elephant did not have more light on him. You could perhaps bring back a bit more detail here in PS with Shadows and Highlights.

[shirlm2]

Hi Tenny this is a nice set of animal shots. I really like your use of the reflection to add interest to your shot of the elephant. He is lacking a bit of detail but you could lighten as Kaye suggested. IMO I think I might also be inclined to crop a bit off the right and bottom to enhance the composition but that’s just my opinion.

I really like your tiger, lovely colours and DOF.

I think my favourite is #4, I like the way he is looking at you & really like the composition.

[mingkywingky]

Hi Tenny,
I have not done many animal shots, but to me these are all lovely with nice composition.
I think my favourites would have to be the tiger and the bear... nice eye focus and eye contact here.
It is a pity the elephant did not have more light on him. You could perhaps bring back a bit more detail here in PS with Shadows and Highlights.


Hi Tenny this is a nice set of animal shots. I really like your use of the reflection to add interest to your shot of the elephant. He is lacking a bit of detail but you could lighten as Kaye suggested. IMO I think I might also be inclined to crop a bit off the right and bottom to enhance the composition but that’s just my opinion.

I really like your tiger, lovely colours and DOF.

I think my favourite is #4, I like the way he is looking at you & really like the composition.

Thanks so much Kaye and Shirley for the nice comments and inputs. I tried to reedit the elephant in PS with shadows and highlight as Kaye said, and cropped a bit as Shirley suggestion. Perhaps, because my intention was more on having the reflection of the elephant, I didn't pay attention on the elephant's details. Again, thanks so much.

[Kaye]

Tenny, this is a great edit. Shadows and Highlights can work wonders if the area is not overexposed. We can now see lots more of the elephant's detail.

[shirlm2]

Hi Tenny this is a great edit. I also like how you have cropped to place the tree on the third. I think I might also take a bit off the top and slightly off the bottom to keep the rectangular rather than square crop but this is a personal preference on my part.

[kinetic]

Hi Tenny, shooting animals in the zoo is a good place to put in practice and also let you get photos of animals you would otherwise never have contact with…cant say we have too many elephants or tigers roaming around in Scotland.:D

I am seeing a bit of softness in all the shots and would like to understand where that is coming from, In some it may be shutter speed, it may be that you are loosing a bit of quality on the upload, you may have a focusing issue such as back focusing…hard to tell without looking in to it a bit more.

On your edited elephant shot, I am not keen on the edit at all…to me it only magnifies you had a problem in the first place. Out of your original and your edit I prefer the original.
Wouldn’t it be better to try and understand the problem rather than just go for the quick fix? Understanding the problem will benefit you greatly if you ever come up against it again…and I guarantee you…you will.

I think something that would be more beneficial for everyone to do is…If anyone makes a comment about a problem they see with your photo, go back and ask that person how to sort it out at the camera level rather than at the software level. That way you combat against needless editing in software and become more confident when the same problem arises again. You have a better understanding of how to tackle that given situation as best you can from the camera.
Thanks Tenny
Mark

[mingkywingky]

Tenny, this is a great edit. Shadows and Highlights can work wonders if the area is not overexposed. We can now see lots more of the elephant's detail.


Hi Tenny this is a great edit. I also like how you have cropped to place the tree on the third. I think I might also take a bit off the top and slightly off the bottom to keep the rectangular rather than square crop but this is a personal preference on my part.

Thanks so much Kaye and Shirley for coming back and commenting on my edit. I like the details that's shown on the elephant now. Shirley, I didn't crop it in a square crop, but I think I will try it again in my file, to see the result. Thanks for all the inputs. I really appreciate that:)


Hi Tenny, shooting animals in the zoo is a good place to put in practice and also let you get photos of animals you would otherwise never have contact with…cant say we have too many elephants or tigers roaming around in ,.:D

I am seeing a bit of softness in all the shots and would like to understand where that is coming from, In some it may be shutter speed, it may be that you are loosing a bit of quality on the upload, you may have a focusing issue such as back focusing…hard to tell without looking in to it a bit more.

On your edited elephant shot, I am not keen on the edit at all…to me it only magnifies you had a problem in the first place. Out of your original and your edit I prefer the original.
Wouldn’t it be better to try and understand the problem rather than just go for the quick fix? Understanding the problem will benefit you greatly if you ever come up against it again…and I guarantee you…you will.

I think something that would be more beneficial for everyone to do is…If anyone makes a comment about a problem they see with your photo, go back and ask that person how to sort it out at the camera level rather than at the software level. That way you combat against needless editing in software and become more confident when the same problem arises again. You have a better understanding of how to tackle that given situation as best you can from the camera.
Thanks Tenny
Mark

Hi Mark.
Thanks so much for taking your time to look at and commenting. I really like your constructive inputs. I learned a lot from you. I also like the inputs from Kaye and Shirley. They helped me learning how to fix the pictures that have already captured. I myself rarely crop my picture anymore, and always try to frame the pictures on my camera in the right composition. So I have to be careful with the composition next time.
You were right about me having a problem of focusing. I sure need to practice a lot. I put the focus in the centre, and I tried to focus on the eyes, but as you said, the low shutter speed might make the camera shake. It's just I couldn't set the shutter speed higher. The zoo was a bit dark since it's surrounded by big trees. I did bring a flash though, but I didn't want to use it.
Maybe I should set the exposure a bit higher, so I can set the higher shutter speed without boosting the ISO? I should have known my camera better.:o

Thanks so much Mark:)

[kinetic]

Hi Tenny and thank you for putting me straight on a few things.
I will in future keep any constructive input out of your posts, and keep them to simple like or dislike.
I feel you may be missing the point of my post, but no matter.
I am sure you will benefit greatly from all the great advice you have said you are already receiving.

Must say Tenny, you don’t seem your self, It almost feels as If I am talking to someone else.

Thank you Tenny
Mark

[mingkywingky]

Hi Tenny and thank you for putting me straight on a few things.
I will in future keep any constructive input out of your posts, and keep them to simple like or dislike.
I feel you may be missing the point of my post, but no matter.
I am sure you will benefit greatly from all the great advice you have said you are already receiving.

Must say Tenny, you don’t seem your self, It almost feels as If I am talking to someone else.

Thank you Tenny
Mark

Hi Mark,
I'm really sorry that I missed the point of your advice. Let's blame it to my ability of English:D:D:o
I wish I could have a better understanding. I hardly speak English since I moved back home last year though. But being in the forum helps me improving my English too.
Please don't keep your constructive comments out of my post. You have no idea how much I need that:)

Thanks Mark.

[kinetic]

Hi Tenny you have no need to say sorry for anything, and your English is better than mine…imagine me trying your language; you would have a lot of fun with that.:D:D:D

No, I understand that some members try to help out other members, away from the forum. I just wouldn’t like to give you any different opinions to what you may be learning from others.
There are many roads lead to a photograph, which one we take is our own individual choice, but usually we all end up with the same…pleasing photographs that bring a sense of satisfaction to us on a personal level.

Thank you Tenny
Mark