Zoo Photo Tips

Issue #143 - Photographing Wildlife at the Zoo

Most zoos open at 10:00 am, after the best morning light is gone. Arrive at the entrance before the gates open. You’ll find a better parking space, and most of the animals are more active in the morning. Summer mornings at some zoos can be foggy, providing much better lighting for photography than contrasty, mid-day lighting.

​Get your hand stamped at the gate so that you can return your heavy jacket to your car when the sun comes out. Since you’ll be walking all day, wear comfortable shoes. Wear black clothing to eliminate reflections on plexiglass enclosures. Pack a black t-shirt in the side pocket of your camera bag. This is also a must-have item for helicopter photography when you have to shoot through windows. Apply a good coat of sunscreen before you leave home – I like the 100+ SPF – more is better.

If you have not already downloaded a map of the zoo you’ll be visiting, pick up a free map of the zoo at the entrance gate. You will need it to find your way through a maze of paths and stairways connecting the Reptile Land to the African Kingdom to the Primate Compound. A map will also help you find the exit at the end of the day.