2014, Day 190 - Curved

I haven't been to the zoo in a while, it used to be a regular stop for me but when I moved my office and they started charging for parking on top of admission it just seemed like more trouble than it was worth.  Still, I love to watch the animals and, for the most part, our local zoo does quite well in keeping the animals stimulated and happy.  The flamingos are always fun because they're so odd and at the same time elegant that I find them fascinating.

Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 55-200/f3.5-4.8R OIS
200mm, f4.8, 1/850 sec @ 500 ISO

2013, Day 217 - The second rising

When I was at the zoo last week I worked pretty hard to avoid people but eventually it becomes unavoidable.  When that happens you either work around them or incorporate them.  These kids were having so much fun watching the seal swim up against the glass; they were counting his passes and then trying to count his whiskers.  It was pretty funny.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 35/f1.4
35mm, f1.4, 1/750 sec @ 500 ISO

2013, Day 213 - Lawn ornament

With the cool overcast morning I decided to make a quick stop off at the zoo before it got too busy.  Well, in summer the place gets busy early and even though I got there ten minutes after they opened the gates I still had to book it to the far end to get away from the crowds.  Fortunately there were only a couple other people when I came to the flamingos.  They are a relatively new addition to the zoo although it seems that they have displaced the spoonbills which I also enjoyed.  I was able to get a few good shots before it got overrun.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 55-200/f3.5-4.8 OIS
200mm, f4.8, 1/1400 sec @ 800 ISO

2012, Day 255 - Shame

As I was perusing through my Google+ stream this morning I noticed multiple images of rhinos and thought back on this picture I took eight years ago at the Oregon Zoo.

Rhino poaching is on the rise, in 2007 only thirteen were killed while last year it was almost five hundred.  There has been a tremendous rise in the slaughter of these amazing animals for their horns due to increased black market demand is Asia.  Their horn is mistakenly believed to be either efficacious in reducing the body temperature, an aphrodisiac, and a cure for cancer.  Rhino horn does none of these things, you would see the same benefits from chewing on your own fingernails, which is to say there would be non.  Many species number less than a thousand and one less than one hundred; it is critically important to raise awareness and conservation efforts now while these critically endangered animals still have the possibility of being saved.

So today I ask you to do a Google search on rhino poaching, share the information you find, see the devastation wrought by poachers and instead of turning away in disgust do something.  Every voice matters.

Canon 1D, Canon 70-200/f2.8L with Extender EF 1.4x II
280mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 277 - Scavenge

I was thinking back through photos I've taken and there was a series of birds of prey that I quite enjoyed.  They were taken over three years ago at the Oregon Zoo while it was undergoing renovations.  During that time none of the raptors were on display but they were brought out be handlers every day at 11:30 so that people could see them.  It took a little digging through the archive to find the photographs I sought but as you can see it was a successful search.

I like this photo, the body language of the vulture is great and there was a nice dark backdrop that was easily enhanced to really highlight the bird.  One of the big surprises, apart from my vastly improved processing skills, is that this photo was taken on the now venerable Canon 1Ds Mark II at 800 ISO.  Now to normal people that probably means very little but for photo nerds like myself I have to admit to being impressed.  The noise is very well controlled and the image is tack sharp.  It's funny to think that since 2008 I've had a 1D Mark III, a 5D Mark II, a 1Ds Mark III and a 1D Mark IV; all have served me well and I still have the 1D Mark IV but I sold all the rest including my original 1Ds Mark II but I have since purchased another and I would be hard pressed to let it go for a second time.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
200mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 800 ISO

2010, Day 257 - Camouflage

I went to the zoo this morning, I haven't been in months but now that school is back in session I decided to risk it and it paid off. The leopard was out front, the egrets were hunting and the wild pigs were waiting to greet the visitors.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

110mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 800 ISO

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

200mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 800 ISO

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

200mm, f2.8, 1/400 sec @ 400 ISO

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

200mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 800 ISO

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

200mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 800 ISO

2010, Day 126 - Zoo zoo zoo

I spent a lovely morning at the Oregon Zoo with my friend Hailey.

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

100mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 400 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

170mm, f4, 1/80 sec @ 400 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

200mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 400 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

180mm, f4, 1/40 sec @ 800 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

130mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 1250 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

95mm, f4, 1/60 sec @ 400 ISO

2010, Day 30 - Oregon Zoo

Met up with my friend Julie at the zoo today. The weather was ideal, a light mist enough to keep most people at home but not enough to keep up indoors. There were some nice surprises like the elephants getting baths, cougars in trees, and the new Predators of the Serengeti exhibit!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

78mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 800 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

200mm, f4, 1/160 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

100mm, f3.5, 1/250 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

150mm, f3.5, 1/320 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

200mm, f4, 1/50 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

200mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

200mm, f4, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

200mm, f4, 1/80 sec @ 640 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f2.8, 1/320 sec @ 400 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f2.8, 1/320 sec @ 400 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

165mm, f2.8, 1/1000 sec @ 1600 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

135mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 1600 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

135mm, f2.8, 1/100 sec @ 1600 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

110mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 800 ISO

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS

135mm, f4, 1/160 sec @ 200 ISO

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