Walk in the Zoo

Click on the pictures for higher resolution This series will document our family outing to the zoo last Thursday. I have always tot that going to the zoo will get good decent wildlife pictures. Yes and no... the zoo does do a good job of housing all the animals in one place, but the animals do not respond to your bidding as much as u like...the harsh mid day sun does not help much either... #1 Cotton Top Tamarin Saw this fella pearched up high in the tree above us as we walked into the zoo. Decided to use the leaves to frame this fella.

#2 Chilling out The Orang Utans have faces that so resemble us mankind. Here I caught the moment when this hairy guy chewed on this stalk of grass while chilling out in the shade.

#3 Big Rhino The sun was so hot that this big creature retreated into the shadows. Tough lighting situation for me. Added the green leaves to provide some foreground interest to layer the picture.

#4 Hello kitty kitty Like the way the picture captured the moment when Ally was gazing at the cheetah. The lines and the shadows certainly help in overall picture composition.

#5 Squirrel on stakes We spotted this fast moving fella while we were resting near the cheetahs enclosure. It's a challenge to get a sharp pic with this fast moving fella. The vertical stakes provided an interesting pattern for the picture.

#6 Where is mummy? Ally roaming around the zoo by herself. I like the background leading lines and the out of focus family and zebras in the background. These provided the 3D effect for the picture.

#7 Landing in motion What a find! Nearing the Lions enclosure, we saw many wild herons flying above the lions. Waiting patiently, I'm rewarded with this shot of the landing heron.

#8 Resting Lion This fella is big... just look at the size of his paws. No doubt that he is the king of the jungle!

#9 At the Squirrel Monkey Exhibit Noticed this rectangular frame that is placed over this exhibit, thus making use of this frame to compose this shot documenting our visit to this exhibit.

#10 Big Old Tortoise I'm sure this old fella was here when I visted the zoo twenty over years ago! Just look at his weathered face, you can tell that this fella has been thru the ages. For a better composition, I framed the tortoise btw the fence and get to the same eye level as him.

#11 Capturing Reflections Such a hot day means no puddles of water in the zoo for me to hunt for reflections. However a photographer should not gave up! Here I spotted an opportunity to capture the reflection of my family and me as we look at this exhibit.

#12 Everyone likes apples! Needless to say this Orang Utan likes apples too! With an apple in this hairy monster's mouth and the diagonal branch it's climbing on, the moment is captured.

#13 Missing a piece each This is definitely not the way to meet a boy... Good find in the children play area in the zoo. :-)

#14 Swinging Chimp Did I mentioned that wildlife photography is tough? Initially I tot that a visit to the zoo will make it easier... err..with the harsh mid day sun and the elusive nature of monkeys like this fella, these do not make it easy for photographers to have a good decent pic. Here is the best pic of this swinging chimp.

#15 Eating with Ah Meng Remember those times when there is 'Breakfast with Ah Meng' (famous icon for Singapore Zoo), where the zoo will charge you high prices for eating with a hairy Orang Utan? Though Ah Meng is dead, one can still have meals with him...without the hairy effect tho.. Juxtaposing Ah Meng's statue with the ladies being framed in the bg.