Andy,

If I can manage a long lens I am sure you can with practise. Try steadying your breathing before you shot. Make sure your elbows are tucked in. Try and lean against something or rest the lens on something. Reset yourself if necessary making sure you are standing steady. Trust me you will get there. On safari we do a lot of roof shots. I am only 4'11" and really struggle to reach even standing on the seats, so often end up resting the lens on my other arm or on somebody else's shoulder - preferable right by their ear so that they are put off their shots my the AF motor No only kidding, everybody wants each other to get the best shots they can

Keep an eye out you never know when one will appear

Andy,

This isn't fair as you know I take my shoots in Kenya or Tanzania. But nevertheless you want some pointers and while I don't class myself as an expert I am willing to try and help. You are very limited even at Chester Zoo. I have been and was disappointed. Check out Hammerton Zoo near Peterborough. A company called Photographers on Safari do photograhic trips there and you can sometimes go into the Cheetah enclosure and you do go in with the wolves. And you get far too close to the Tigers for me! I would recommend Hammerton Zoo for good photo opportunities.

Firstly, I think you would benefit from a longer lens - sorry, but even in a zoo they come in handy. Are you using continuous shoot or single shot? Continuous is better for wildlife action

Next, always try and get action shots or poses, on safari we have waited hours watching cheetahs snoozing in the hope they will roll over or start washing each other. Catching a greeting is great. Headshots can work as well as full body sometimes. Don't get hung up on the rule of thirds. It doesn't always work for wildlife but can do depending on the shot. Of your shots I think I like your Jaguar shot the best but would probably suggest cropping it. The River Hog would have been god if it had raised its head. It might have been worth waiting to see if it did it for you. The Penguin shot would have been better from a different angle. I have no idea what the next shot is? Is it the Sealions? Try to make sure viewers can at least know what they are looking at. Finally try and get the catchlight in the eyes when shooting outdoors. This would have made good shoots rather than just nice shoots. I have uploaded a few more examples on many flickr page including a sealion shot from Chester Zoo, the rest are in my Mara Kenya 2007 set. I have put a Rhino shot showing an example of how I have cropped it to make it a better picture I believe.

You do have some good shots with potential in this batch though. You are improving and given the right environment you will get some great shots

For all the better photographers here, like I said I don't consider myself a world expert on the subject. Just trying to help.

Thanks. I can't hange the wood grain but I have had another go using the original but a different section.

Karl,

Not sure if it proves anything but I bought mine in either March or April this year and mine say 03/03/2008. Of more concern to me is that for the picture I chose - being one of the last I have taken on the camera it gives a shutter count of 2693 but the image number is 0028 having just gone over 10,000 images

I thought I would have a go at seeing what normally colourful subjects look like in B&W. One for PaulyRichard to C&C on I think

Thanks Dan. I saw the repeated pattern straight away But as it was my first attempt I was just pleased to have done it at all I will go away and try again

I was asked to clone out the wood on a photo I loaded to the gallery and rather than start a new post I decided to add the picture to one of my old ones! Here is the cloned picture, it the first time I have tried cloning. Also a copule more Peacock butterfly shots from today.







link

link

Don't worry about being harsh - like I said I was only messing around. No it wasn't a macro lens but a manual 50mm. I was just playing around trying a couple of things.

Cheers,

will go and have another play

I see they are also offering a brand new K-7 Body only for £999 which is the same as on their website.