The Zoo, Seen.

The Central Park Zoo

4/10/2009 New York, New York

Review: The Central Park Zoo is still my favorite little zoo.  This marks my second review of the zoo visit (read the other review here) I was a volunteer zoo guide there for a few years and I am still quite familiar with the collection.  It is a small zoo, but they have a great collection of big, cool and unique animals.  Every visit is different, and I can still say that with well over 50 visits in my book.  And while I have said in the past that a bird heavy montage signifies a bad visit, that is quite contrary to this zoo, where the included birds are doing something interesting, big, odd, rare, and/or super colorful!

Photographability: When the glass is clean, this zoo can yield some great photos.  You can get up close to most of the animals shooting over natural barriers and the exhibits are free of unnatural sightlines. The Tropics building, while sometimes dark, offers clean tropical backdrops for a host of very cool unique free flight birds. Photographically, this zoo has few challenges, though during the darker parts of the year, the light in the Tropics building and Penguin exhibit are often quality photo prohibitive.  I used my Canon Mark IIn camera with a 70-200mm zoom lens and the 1:4, and the Canon G7 for the macro stuff.

Highlights: The tropics building is still the best I’ve ever seen, and the large bird collection is really growing and impressive.  The new lemur exhibit looks great, even though I only spotted one lemur through the dirty glass.  The new snow leopard won’t open until June, but it looks photo friendly and impressive!

Lowlights: The tropics building was closed for repairs, and while my friend Judy did get me in to see the new lemurs, fun birds and my favorite silvery marmosets, I wasn’t able to spend as much time as I would have liked.  The glass in the penguin exhibit was fogged up and dizzying to look through. 

Pleasant Surprises: I knew the children’s zoo had two baby lambs, but I was pleasantly surprised with how totally adorable they are!  

Would I Return?: Yes, next time I’m back in NYC.

Rating: 8 (out of 10)

The San Francisco Zoo

2/27/2008 San Francisco, California

Review: The San Francisco Zoo is a now infamous zoo with tigers, as well as a zoo with an otherwise nice collection showcased in new and old school exhibits. The african savannah is a relatively new and nicely done exhibit allowing multiple exposures of the same groupings. 

Photographability: Most of the exhibits are pretty easy to work with, a lot of the exhibits allow for multiple views from platforms at various elevations. The now famous tiger exhibit has been updated “for our safety” which has effectively made it difficult to see the tigers.  Moat barriers which provide unobstructed views of the animals are used frequently here, but the moats are pretty wide (for our safety) and the fake stone backgrounds are all too consistent with many exhibits. Rock perches on the back with, pick your sleeping cat, aren’t all that interesting.  The Grizzly Bear exhibit is very cool, and if the sun is right, shooting through the plexiglas at the watering hole is rewarding.  I used my Canon Mark IIn camera and 70-200mm zoom lens with the 1:4. 

Highlights: I love hippos!  They also have great access to several Koalas, a rare sight!

Lowlights: A lot of the exhibits, those that haven’t been renovated, are drab and boring. The baby giraffe wasn’t on exhibit.

Pleasant Surprises: This was my first visit to the San Francisco Zoo, it was as much fun to see the trail of terror from the 12/25/2007 Tiger incident with friends that were there that day, as it was the collection.

Would I Return?: Yes, I already have plans to in April 2009.

Rating: 6 (out of 10)

The Oakland  Zoo

2/28/2008 Oakland, California

Review: The Oakland Zoo is a nice little zoo with a really great flying fox exhibit. The layout is easily meander-able, but very hilly, and unless you’re reading the map, there are surprises around every corner. 

Photographability: Most of the exhibits are pretty easy to work with, a lot of the exhibits utilize the moat barriers which provide unobstructed views of the animals, though you’ll need that zoom lens to get up close and personal. I used my Canon Mark IIn camera and 70-200mm zoom lenswith the 1:4.  The Canon G7 came out for the macro moments.

Highlights: The gibbons were howling and the siamangs were out and on the move swinging around their exhibt.  I like those neck monkeys.  Oakland has made a commitment to keeping their elephants and are building a wonderful facility to accommodate them. The flying foxes were especially cool too, I’ve never seen an exhibit like this one. Judy made a fun video of the flying foxes.

Lowlights: They’ve got a troop of chimps but it’s impossible to shoot through the fencing. 

Pleasant Surprises: This was my first visit to the Oakland Zoo, sandwiched between visits to several others.  I loved the smallness of it, and prefer it to the San Francisco Zoo.

Would I Return?: Yes, I already have plans to in April 2009.

Rating: 7 (out of 10)

Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium

4/11/08 Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Review: This spring visit coincided with that of screaming children and school groups. (The zoo has since been renovated to add an adjoining aquarium. The addition of the aquarium helps swallow some of the crowds.) To see a review of the aquarium, click here.  If you appreciate an enormous collection of birds and small primates but aren’t as intent on photographing them, this zoo is a good stop for you.  If you’re keen on photographing them, bring your patience and a good zoom lens, something f2.8 would be ideal. 

Photographability: I shot with a Mark IIn and the 70-200 zoom lens and the Canon G7.  It was a bright sunny day, the ISO was mostly fixed at 200. This zoo is truly a photographers challenge.  Either the exhibits use photo friendly natural barriers (yay!) or something entirely impossible to photograph through, let alone view the animals. Two layers of cyclone fencing AND/or cross hatched giant birdcage like enclosures are sure ways to keep me walking.

Highlights: There were a lot of babies, babies make zoos fun! The giraffes aren’t represented at left, but the giraffe exhibit allows for some fun interactions.

Lowlights: Along with a an extensive bird collection they also have a lot of little primates in impossible to see enclosures.  The paths are all dirt, it gets pretty dusty when the children all scuff their feet, so you’ll need something to occasionally wipe your lens. 

Pleasant surprise: I like ducks, ducklings are even cooler!  

Would I return: Sure, if  Judy (see her photos) wants to see the new aquarium next time we’re in Arizona, I’ll go.

Rating: 5 (out of 10)

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

1/9/2006 Tucson, Arizona

Review: The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum has a wonderful collection of animals from the Sonora Desert.  If you’re not from Arizona, this is a great place to visit to get a sense of the wildlife and foliage in the area.

Photographability: The zoo grounds are gorgeous and beautifully maintained. Natural barriers are used most often, though the animals are native to the area so they are adapt to blending in.  I was starring at a pack of peccary long before actually seeing them.  I used the Canon 20d with the 70-200 zoom and the 24-70mm with a macro.

Highlights: The hummingbird exhibit was really cool.  These birds are really hard to shoot in the wild, so it was a fun experience to be so close to them and their favorite feeding sources.

Lowlights: We walked through a lot of the exhibits without seeing anything.  While that can be a great teaching opportunity for camouflage, I like to SEE the animals.  There’s A LOT of walking involved out into the open sun.  Even in december it was really hot.

Pleasant Surprises: Coming up close _safely_with a black widow was a new sight.  

Would I Return?: Maybe if I was bringing a newbie to Arizona and we had some free time in Tucson. (I do recommend this zoo and grounds for those interested in the desert, go in the spring, the desert in bloom is gorgeous)

Rating: 6 (out of 10)

Out of Africa Wildlife Park

4/13/2008 Cape Verde, Arizona

Review: Out of Africa Wildlife Park was hoakey and REALLY cool. The park has an incredible collection of big cats as well as a pretty thorough plains grazer group.  My friend and Judy and I were both skeptical, but figured if they could get $36 for admission, they had to come through.  Come through they did, with cool shows like Tiger Splash and the Predator Feed, we left licking our own chops!

Photographability: These  guys encourage and thought about photography so much, they actually built viewing platforms with eye level unobstructed views. Bravo!  During feedings times, the keepers told us what they were going to do before they did it, allowed photographers to get into place and then proceeded.  Such customer service!  Fantastic.  We got up close and personal on the Safari, animals without the predator instinct are quite friendly! Tiger Splash was really cool (Check out Judy’s Tiger Splash Video) but it was hard to anticipate, track, and manually focus through the fencing, I had fun watching!  I used my Canon MarkIIn with the 70-200mm and  1:4 converter, and the Canon G7 for those fun candid moments.

Highlights: The Predator feed was spectacular!  Following the feed truck loaded with hunks of meat down predator alley was fantastic.  Whole turkeys, horse limbs, chickens and other slabs of raw meat were tossed into the animals enclosures, and we had prime viewing spots to see it.  Tiger Splash was also really cool, though a little tense, there’s always the feeling that one of tigers could turn, inadvertently or not, and really injure one of the handlers.

Lowlights: Not the zoos fault, but is was FREEZING, not what we expected for April in Arizona. (it SNOWED on our way home)

Pleasant Surprises: The whole experience was a pleasant surprise!

Would I Return?: I do think Judy and I will make a return the next time we make an escape to Arizona! And, we’ll have LAYERS.

Rating: 7 (out of 10)

The Reid Park Zoo

1/7/2007 Tucson, Arizona

Review: The Reid Park Zoo is a nice little zoo with a great collection of big animals!  The layout is easily meander-able, and unless you’re reading the map, there are surprises around every corner. 

Photographability: Most of the exhibits are pretty easy to work with, a lot of the exhibits utilize the moat barriers which provide unobstructed views of the animals, though you’ll need that zoom lens to get up close and personal.  The lion exhibit and tiger exhibit were tough to work with, though once the lion settled down in front of the plexiglas window I found an un-smugged portion to work with.  I used my Canon 20d, the 24-70, and 70-200mm with the 1:4. 

Highlights: I love anteaters, and the zoo has a great collection! The lion was entertaining, and I like that i captured him looking, relaxed!

Lowlights: Shooting through curved plexiglas is challenging and frustrating.  It’s impossible to get a focus point.

Pleasant Surprises: The anteaters were super active, and I’d forgotten how many they have.  Cool animals.

Would I Return?: Sure, next time I’m in Tucson, but if I’m in Arizona for just a short visit, I’ll hit the Phoenix Zoo instead.

Rating: 6 (out of 10)

The Henry Doorly Zoo

2/21/2008 Omaha, Nebraska

Review: If I’m going to operate on a 10-scale rating, there’s gotta be a 10. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo was, without a doubt,  a TEN.  An incredible zoo with an impressive collection in a wonderfully photographable display, this is the best zoo I’ve ever visited.  While it helps that connections gave us a little behind the scenes access, the zoo would have been equally sensational without it. With incredible exhibits at every turn, and even a dining spot overlooking the tropics with big free flight birds, it’s no wonder my friend Judy and I managed to spend a whole day at this incredible zoo.  (Check out Judy’s photos here and here) 

Photographability: Finally, it’s as though a zoo has taken photography into mind as they designed each and every one of the exhibits.  Natural barriers were implemented as often as possible, and if not, the glass was uber-clean and vertical wire fencing, a photo friendly barrier, was used in place of that dreaded ugly cyclone fencing. I used my Canon Mark IIn with a 70-200 f/2.8 zoom lens and a 28-70mm with a macro, variable ISO from 200-1600 depending the exhibit light as well as the Canon G7 to take some videos and photograph some of the aquarium bits. The G7 has an excellent macro lens and is really easy to use at the glass with the viewing screen.

Highlights: I’d heard the zoo was good, but hadn’t read up too much on the collection. The aquarium wing was really impressive and I was thrilled to see king penguins!  Going inside the exhibit was a total unsuspected thrill and my all time favorite zoo photo is still from this zoo visit. 

Lowlights: Seriously, no lowlights, aside from it being freezing, but that’s my fault, who goes to a zoo in Nebraska in February! 

Pleasant Surprises: The World of Darkness was incredible!  Not really a place for photography, never mind that i was too freaked to take photos, the place was like an amusement park ride, except we didn’t sign a waiver and I think my life might have been in more danger than I actually know.  The rogue giant bull frog hoping along our path and the screeches from the muskrats gave us a real fright! Did i mention King Penguins!?

Would I Return?:  Yes, absolutely.  Though I might try to coordinate it with the College World Series in the late spring as opposed to a winter wedding in Iowa!

Rating: 10 (out of 10)

The Stone Zoo

1/08/09 Stoneham, Massachusetts

Review: The Stone Zoo is my local zoo and I visit it more often than any other zoo.  It’s a small zoo with a nice collection of animals in a very walkable layout.  It’s really hit or miss, and the seasons play a huge role in that, but with many large cool animals (bears, coyotes, mtn lions, jaguars, otters, snow leopards and wolves) you’re likely to come away with a good memory.  I enjoyed watching the bears with some annoyance (see photographability) and have posted my favorite photo from that encounter.  

Photographability: The relatively new black bear exhibit is very frustrating.  While the viewing areas have great potential, the backlight provides for some very distracting reflections.  I think zoos should hire photographers when they go about designing exhibits, we see the viewing issues!  The covered space is nice, shade is a good start for hindering reflections, but a simple black curtain covering the back opening (advertise on the OTHER side) would greatly enhance the pleasure of this exhibit.  If I can’t shoot through a reflection, it means viewers can’t see through it either.  Seriously, Stone Zoo, if you’re reading this, try it, you’ll enjoy the bears that much more too! That gripe aside, I was determined to use my new 15mm fisheye lens and the bears were right up at the glass.  I met little success (1 success posted) given the number of frames i snapped, but found some luck bulking myself up and shooting through my solid reflection.  (tip: wear a dark solid shirt to the zoo, you can usually maneuver -albeit sometimes awkward- to block out the obnoxious background.)  I used the Canon G7 for a majority of the shots of the bears because I was able to use my torso to create a clean shot.  I cut off a lot of heads though too, because i couldn’t see the view screen.  The rest of the zoo is actually pretty photo friendly, though the exhibits with the meerkats and tamarins are dark and the sloth exhibit is covered in condensation. I used my Canon Mark IIn with a 70-200 f/2.8 zoom lens, variable ISO from 200-1600 depending on snow levels and exhibit light.

Highlights: Despite my complaints, the bears were very playful and fun.  The coyote was going to town on a bone, cool teeth, and the wolves were howling.

Lowlights: The Stone Zoo advertises often with a close up of a snow leopard.  It’s a gorgeous animal, and could easily be a highlight, but I haven’t seen the snow leopard in several visits.  

Pleasant Surprises: The zoo is making cool looking improvements to an otter exhibit and has another area portioned out for a white cheeked gibbon exhibit too. A baby emperor tamarin was born recently.

Would I Return?:  Yes, absolutely.  Maybe again in the spring when “Lord of the Wings” the free flight bird demonstration is back on.

Rating: 4 (out of 10)

The Maryland Zoo

10/07/08 Baltimore, Maryland

Review:  I stopped at the Maryland Zoo on my way down to visit some friends in Washington, D.C..  I spent a lot longer than i’d anticipated, two reasons, the zoo is set pretty far back in from the parking lot, and the chimpanzees were totally engaging.  The zoo overall was underwhelming, the exhibits were really spread out and it was easy to miss exposures for some exhibits without backtracking.  The zoo has quite a few exhibits but I didn’t really feel like i’d seen many animals.  The montage confirms that. 

Photographability:  I strive to keep barriers out of my photos.  This proved especially challenging with the elephant exhibit, and while I know it’s all in place for my safety, it’s unfortunate that the restraints went right through the normal line of view.  I opted for the Canon Mark IIn with the 70-200 f/2.8 zoo lens with the 1/4 extender.  It was a REALLY bright day, so i was fine to lose the 2.8 aperture and get my shutter speed away from 8000. The chimpanzee exhibit was especially challenging, the plexiglas barrier is VERY scratched up and grimy hands from shrieking children gummed up one side, while the chimps did their part with their mouths and other items from their side.  Add in some glare and it was almost unbearable to even observe them!  I used the Canon G7 on manual for the majority of the chimp shots as they were right up on the glass and i was able to readily control the exposure with the funky light.  Overall a very challenging photographic experience. Whew!

Highlights: Baby elephants are really cute, and Samson was no exception.  The top right photo continues to be one of my favorites.  I’d never seen a baby spoonbill (first column, second down, and bottom right), and while I generally try to avoid birds in the combos, this was an exciting sight.

Lowlights: The chimpanzee exhibit was impossible to work with/view, with or without a camera.

Pleasant Surprises: I did no research on the zoo aside from finding address for the GPS, so the baby elephant was a real treat!  The polar bear exhibit has a real Tundra Buggy, and while it was cool to see, it may have tempered my urge to go out in one with a whole lot of people i didn’t know.  Stuffy, cramped.

Would I return? Probably not, I’d more likely be eager to get to the National Zoo or Philadelphia Zoo on either side.

Rating: 2 (out of 10)