Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Ross Park Zoo: Monkeys

I took my wife, two girls and my mom to Ross Park Zoo on Labor Day. I was hoping to get more pictures of animals while we were there, but most of them were in the shade. My Sigma 70-300mm lens just doesn't cut it for taking pictures hand held. Hopefully, next year I'll be able to add a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens to my camera bag.

This is my favorite photo of the day.
Ross Park Zoo (by john_brainard)

I had this guy sticking his tongue out at me! It was hilarious. Unfortunately he wouldn't do it for the camera.

Ross Park Zoo (by john_brainard)

Ross Park Zoo (by john_brainard)


Keep an eye out for part two. I took a couple pictures in the aviary and some in the display donated by Time Warner. Go ahead and guess what's in the Time Warner display.

Feel free to offer suggestions on how I could have taken these photos better.

5 comments:

zetson said...

That white moustached guy is so funny! Darn cute too:)Too bad he didn't stick out the tounge. Well, looks good anyway.

Are you serious about the 70-200? The IS version? Sometimes I regret I didn't go for Canon in the beginning. Seems you guys have a larger selection of lenses to choose from. I only have the 70-200 f/2.8 VR with a HUGE price tag. You have the f/2.8, f/4, with IS or non-IS...

I'm thinking about getting the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro. They say it's the perfect macro and portrai lens, with excellent sharpness from wide-open. I have the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, but feel it could be sharper. We'll see.

I didn't quite get the Time Varner thing? Am I supposed to know what's in it?:)

John Brainard said...

I have a picture with his tongue partially stuck out, but it's not sharp enough to post. The monkeys are certainly pretty funny. I enjoy the monkey exhibits as much as I do the penguin exhibits.

Yeah... I want the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS. It's expensive at $1600, but would probably be worth it. There's no telling how I'll change my mind by the time spring rolls around though. I really want a good, fast telephoto zoom lens for general use. It would be more ideal if it were 18-200mm f/2.8, but I can't imagine how heavy that would have to be!

The Sigma would be an option, but it doesn't have image stabilization.

Time Warner is a cable company in the US. Their broadband service is called RoadRunner. Perhaps that helps some? :)

When I first started thinking about getting a dSLR, I was going to get a Nikon. A coworker told me he had a friend that works for Canon and at the end of the year, they do special employee discounts for friends and family. It didn't work out that way for me, but I started looking at the Canons and saw that the XTi was the most popular camera on Flickr. So, that's what I bought. I'm sure Nikon's selection of lenses will catch up to Canons.

Anonymous said...

Zoo animals are well known for avoiding the camera. I think they know what it is and as soon as they see it make it impossible to get a good shot. I have been taking zoo photos for over 20 years and I can't remember how many times I have seen animals turn around when they see the camera. Ok, so maybe I'm a little cynical here. lol
I have used both Nikon and Canon for zoo work. While good equipment is always a must, I have worked with expensive to very cheap lenses, I have always found that I tend to pick lenses I find comfortable. Size and weight matters a lot when you are waiting at the zoo, since you are at the mercy of animals which have all the time in the world. Speed is the next thing I look at in specs, animals do not pose or repeat things just for you (They don't think you are special :P ...)

zetson said...

LOL, Roadrunner. Yes, I get it:) It's BTW called "Bippe Stankelbein" in Norway, which actually means "Bippe, the crane fly"... Strange, isn't it??

I was more annoyed on Nikon's lenses when I had the Nikon D40 because it lacked the internal AF-motor. And almost all Nikkor primes are non-AF-S. But with the D300 the problem is solved:) But still, I really like Canon's lenses. Great reviews all over.

John Brainard said...

Sara, animals are a bit stuck up that way, aren't they? I wonder if they're uncomfortable with that funky looking eye protruding from our faces that we seem to be able to take out at will.

Zetson... Very interesting name for broadband service.