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How many Photographers

Discussion in 'Animal Photography' started by dbyrd, 28 Sep 2008.

  1. dbyrd

    dbyrd Member

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2008
    Posts:
    14
    Location:
    Santa Rosa Beach,Florida,USA
    How many photographers are on this forum? Are most members zookeepers?
     
  2. mstickmanp

    mstickmanp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    9 Jun 2008
    Posts:
    2,092
    Location:
    California, USA
    I'm not exactly a photographer, but every time I go to the zoo I try to take the best pics that I could with my digital camera.

    Oh, and I'm a volunteer at a zoo, but would love to become a zookeeper in the future.
     
  3. dbyrd

    dbyrd Member

    Joined:
    21 Sep 2008
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    14
    Location:
    Santa Rosa Beach,Florida,USA
    I hear you. My love for animals came to me later in life, if I was younger, I would become a zoo keeper!
    I am now single with 3 dogs and have lost my ability to travel from my home for longer than 12 hours.Some of my dogs have to be medicated every 12 hours.
    BTW: I looked at your profile. Good luck with your Education and dedication to animals!
     
  4. mstickmanp

    mstickmanp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    9 Jun 2008
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    2,092
    Location:
    California, USA
    Thanks! Well, I also can't travel now that I'm in college, but I'm sure I'll travel when I get out.
     
  5. gentle lemur

    gentle lemur Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    8 Sep 2007
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    4,981
    Location:
    South Devon
    I'm a teacher and an amateur photographer, specialising in animals of many kinds. I was awarded an Associateship of the Royal Photographic Society for a portfolio of aquarium photos in 1993. I have had a few of my photos published in magazines and books over the years.

    Alan
     
  6. KEEPER

    KEEPER Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    19 Aug 2008
    Posts:
    759
    Location:
    Burjassot (Valencia province) Spain
    I´m amateur photographer, but I try to take the best pics as possible in every situation.My nick it´s only a dream, not the truth.
     
  7. kc7gr

    kc7gr Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Sep 2008
    Posts:
    173
    Location:
    Kent, WA, USA
    Semi-pro here

    Started out in the 70's with a Canon AE-1, moved up to a full-blown A1 outfit in the late 80's, been clicking a shutter at parks all over the country for the better part of 20 years and accumulated a huge collection of Kodachrome and Ektachrome slides to show for it.

    I've finally decided to go digital after a long gap. To that end, I will be ordering the basis for my new outfit this winter. Specifically, a Canon EOS 50D, enough lenses to keep any zoogoer happy, and associated filters, case, tripod, etc. Already have Photoshop.

    Then, next spring/summer, the real fun begins. Look for at least some of the results to appear in my blog on the Zoo/Aquarium visitor site.

    Keep the peace(es).
     
  8. Simon Hampel

    Simon Hampel Administrator Staff Member 20+ year member

    Joined:
    18 Oct 2003
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    4,035
    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    Good choice - I'm very happy with my EOS 40D, and the 50D looks like a nice improvement.

    Have you looked at Photoshop Lightroom? It's a great addition to Photoshop and is a must-have for organising your digital photo collection.
     
  9. beckiscott

    beckiscott Active Member

    Joined:
    12 Apr 2008
    Posts:
    39
    Location:
    M62
    My name is becki and i am a photographer!

    Well not a full time pro tog, but i have done well in a few comps and sold a few photos.
    Since taking up photography 3 years ago, i have also developed a strong interest in wildlife. Most of my better photos are from captive animals but i do try get out and get proper 'wild' shots when i can.

    I found zoobeat is really good for keeping me up to date as to which facilities to visit, and when!
     
  10. Leptonyx

    Leptonyx Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    193
    Location:
    Ontario
    Not exactly...

    I've learned how to use the macro-focus on my small digital...if that counts for anything? I also take a bunch of pictures at once, delete the ones that didn't turn out, and show off the good ones...so to those who see my pictures and don't know my secret, they think I'm an actual photographer :D haha. Worked for the first time this summer as a zookeeper, but have been doing wildlife rehabilitation/education for 3 years prior to that- but loved being a zookeeper and definetely hope to go back someday!
     
  11. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    13 Jun 2007
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    23,440
    Location:
    New Zealand
    that's what they do to! A professional wildlife photographer may take hundreds of shots and end up with only a handful that are good enough for publication
     
  12. Leptonyx

    Leptonyx Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    18 Oct 2008
    Posts:
    193
    Location:
    Ontario
    Ohhhhh....good to know! I know photographers do that with taking pictures of lightning...though I guess animals are really unpredictable in sort of the same way! Definetely not a professional photographer- but thanks for the confidence booster! :)
     
  13. Jessica Nyquist

    Jessica Nyquist New Member

    Joined:
    5 Sep 2008
    Posts:
    4
    Location:
    Colton, Oregon, United States
    I love taking photographs of everything especially animals at the zoo. I've wanted to become a zoo keeper ever since I was really young. It would be my dream job.
     
  14. Elly

    Elly Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    12 Nov 2008
    Posts:
    102
    Location:
    Den Haag, Netherlands
    I just love to make photo's in the zoo. I'm no zookeeper, nor do I have the ambition to become one! Too much poo ...
     
  15. The Crow2

    The Crow2 Member

    Joined:
    30 Nov 2008
    Posts:
    9
    Location:
    Budapest, Hungary
    I'm just an amateur photographer, who loves taking animal pictures and loves zoos. I'm not a zookeper, but due to my profession I working with animals every day.
    As I said in my profile, if you wanna see my pics, please visit my Flickr page.... :)
     
  16. DeydraOZ

    DeydraOZ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    7 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    143
    Location:
    Bozeman, MT
    I like to think of myself as a photographer. Although I sometimes find myself just hanging out with the animals rather than taking their picture.

    Love taking pictures of three otters that I've become well attached to.

    I travel with a Cannon XT, and 18-55mm, and 75-300mm lenses.
    Hope to upgrade to a 50d, and get a 100-400lens.
     
  17. kc7gr

    kc7gr Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    5 Sep 2008
    Posts:
    173
    Location:
    Kent, WA, USA
    EOS 40D vs. 50D

    This is an update to my earlier post.

    I've received most of my new camera outfit (still waiting for a few filters, a new bag, and LCD protectors). Contrary to my earlier post, I opted for the EOS 40D (though I did get the 100-400mm L-series lens - it's huge!)

    There were multiple reasons for this. First, the review of the 50D at dpreview.com indicated that it actually did worse in terms of noise at high ISO settings than the 40D. Another reason was that the 50D, with the lens I would have chosen, was at least $700 more than the 40D.

    A third factor was that, when shooting multiple frames at high speed, the 40D is actually quicker (6.5 frames/sec) than the 50D (5 FPS).

    Given that my primary subjects are critters, and that I'm not blowing up my pictures to wall size or doing professional model shoots, I concluded that I really didn't need the extra pixels and the 50D was not, at this time, worth the extra cost for me. I may buy one later down the road, as a spare body, but the 40's going to be plenty to handle for now.

    Just some things to consider if you also happen to be shopping for a "prosumer" DSLR.

    Happy shutterbugging.
     
  18. aim_foliksta

    aim_foliksta Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    143
    Location:
    Barcelona, Spain
    I'm an amateur photographer but I've been taking photos since I have memory :D I have an Olympus E-500 with three objective lens: 40-150mm (I usuay use this), 70-300mm and 14-45mm.
    I started with this camera 2 years ago and with it I photograped about 450 distinct animal species.
     
  19. Kwambeze

    Kwambeze Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    20 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    252
    Location:
    Kolmården, Sweden
    I am an amateur when it comes to shoot good pictures, but I have good equipment, making the pictures better. The equipment can fit in any case, me, a camera tripod and a Nikon D40x. I also have a video camera and two smaller digital cameras. A new camera tripod, I received the Christmas present from the family yesterday, which pleased me :)

    I am not an animal keeper, but visiting Kolmarden Zoo in Sweden over 60 - 70 times year. In the rest of Sweden, it will be about three trips each year. In the summer I hope to go to Denmark, perhaps to Germany , and shoot photos of course :D
     
  20. yangz

    yangz Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    20 May 2008
    Posts:
    137
    Location:
    wichita, kansas, usa
    I am an amateur photographer as well. I use my photos as references for the stuff I do in the zoo and for my own paintings. I particularly like to photograph the rare and unusual animals.