Section 2 Shooting
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Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Sometimes, the behavior you will illustrate
is quite passive. For example, tigers, lions,
and other big cats spend a great deal of time
sleeping in the sunlight. With fairly natural-
looking surroundings and careful composition,
even a dozing animal can make a good photo,
Figure 12-54.
Zoos vary considerably in the amount of
natural-looking outdoor habitat they provide.
In most cases, you can find shooting angles
that avoid unnatural-appearing backgrounds,
Figure 12-55. Often, you can select an aperture
that throws the background out of focus. At other
times, shifting position will be necessary to find
an acceptable view.
Photos of large animals in action, such as
a running cheetah, are typically shot under
controlled conditions on captive animal
ranches or compounds. These animals
can be “put through their paces,” for a fee,
by photographers shooting primarily for
advertising agencies. Similar businesses
offer amateur photographers opportunities
to photograph herds of horses, western cattle
drives, or big game animals.
Jack Klasey/Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-54. A sleeping tiger, a small waterfall, and
the interplay of sunlight and shadow combine to make a
pleasing image of repose.
A
Jack Klasey/Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Figure 12-55. Avoiding a “zoo” appearance. A—This giraffe is obviously in a captive environment. B—A far more natural
appearance results from photographing a young giraffe against the mother’s flank, using a 300 mm lens to throw the
background out of focus.
B