Thanks all! In terms of technique and filters, it's all pretty basic I'm afraid... No filters at all on the lens. I think on this occasion I was helped considerably by the fact that the reptile house itself was really dark so all the lighting was inside the tanks. I think this (coupled with wiping the worst of the grease off the glass where possible) helped to minimise reflections from the outside of the glass. I just looked through the viewfinder to make sure there weren't any obvious weird light effects and then checked on the rear LCD screen after shooting. Beyond that, I think a fast lens and a steady hand is about it. I don't like to use the K7 above ISO800 so all of these (from memory) would have been shot at ~f2.8 or f3.2, something like that. The rest is PP to try and fix the colour casts from the lights and (generally) boost the contrast and levels a bit.

Regards

Of course if you'd rather have a classic lightning you could look here:

link

... you can also stick in a tender for three type 42 destroyers and a small fleet of Dominie aircraft...

For the wildlife/nature 'tog there's also plenty camo gear...

Regards

Evening all. Whilst at the zoo last week, the reptile house was a bit of a refuge as it was a welcome respite from the cold. However, it is a tricky place to photograph it's contents: really dark inside (with each tank having it's own light source - generally producing some pretty unique colour casts), the subjects are often well hidden, and the glass has condensation on the inside and greasy smears on the outside! but having said all that, I had a good go with the DA* 200 on my K7, and here are some results. As ever, C&C welcomed and I hope you like them:

First up, a colourful lizard which I think is a skink (although I could be wrong):



Mini-dino:



Dozing on a ledge:



Tongueshoot:



Pole-sitter:



Viper(?):



and then, just outside the reptile house, a put-upon-looking Galapagos Tortoise:



Regards

Thanks Rob. I think number 2 is the 'winner' of the set!

Regards

Thanks for the C&C folks - definitely helpful and I shall have a go at a few tweaks I think. The shot with purple fringing was indeed wide open at f2.8. I had been shooting inside the giraffe house and it was pretty dark (the first shot is f2.8 and ISO 800 but still only had 1/60th shutter speed). I think I just snapped the second shot (it's a different giraffe) as an opportune image using the same settings. I think it can be fixed in PS though (I'll have a go). Will definitely have a go with curves on the last shot, and I'll have a go at tidying up a few bits and bobs, although I don't know if I'll satisfactorily get rid of the vertical object in the first shot (it is the locking mechanism of the big giraffe house doors - like a giant fire escape mechanism I think). I shall have to nip back sometime and see if I can find the giraffe sitting a couple of feet to the right or left

Thanks for the link Tim too!

Cheers

WoW! I'd love to have a go but I wouldn't have the bottle...

Very cool!

Nicely done! I agree with both the previous comments - very slick image IMO

Regards

Ouch! I hope that wasn't the only place he had them stored. I post plenty pics on flickr (so my Mum can see them) but have them all backed up on hard drives at home...

Hello again all. Whilst I was in Regent's Park last friday I couldn't resist a couple of hours at London Zoo. Especially as at this time of year it is reasonably empty of people (although cold!!:shock. Grabbed a cardful of pics, and I'll post some on here over time, but thought I would start with some pics I got of one of the Giraffes - very endearing and gentle seeming creatures. All shots were taken using the k7 and the DA*200 (the only lens I took for a change). I hope you like them. Any C&C welcome as ever... not the best shooting conditions but the subject was great

First up, a portrait taken inside the Giraffe house:




Big wide world?:




Peeping outside:




Testing the water:




Raspberry!:




and finally,a parting portrait in the doorway (bit of a crop this one):




Regards

Thanks for the comments everyone - much appreciated. I must say I am really enjoying the DA*200 lens this winter. I don't like to take the K7 above ISO800 so with the generally dull days I find myself enjoying the wide aperture and having to try and get a shutter speed of (only) 1/200th mean that I am using it currently a lot more than the DA*300 which has been my normal workhorse telephoto lens. Highly recommended

Regards