Red Panda

[Mal]

Yesterday I was at Mogo Zoo, on the South Coast of NSW. We were doing a story with the Red Panda, a very very shy creature who is usually sleeping in the middle of the day. But thanks to us having a TV camera a presenter and a puppet in thier enclosure we had this guy (and lady) up and about. I have been only using my 50mm lens on recent trips. Really trying to get the hang of how it works in all situations. As always I would have loved to be able to have spent more time with these animals, but we were there for work and not pleasure
Would love to have some feed back on how to make these shots better. It was the middle of the day and there is no way that I would have been able to use a speedlight. All apeture priority and centre wieghted. No cropping, all 100%





This one is a little soft

[Oneputt]

Mal just a thought, perhaps a longer zoom lens might have been the go. They sure are cute little fellas.

[Mal]

Mal just a thought, perhaps a longer zoom lens might have been the go. They sure are cute little fellas.

Thanks Oneputt, but I was wanting to stick to using the 50mm at the moment. Yes there are times when I think "bugger" I wish I had a zoom on, but that is what my little experiment is all about. Gettting used to using one lens and one size only.

[Killakoala]

Looks to have been difficult shooting conditions. The first image is brilliantly composed but the highlights on either side really detract from a great image. Perhaps a closer crop or even painting the highlights black might help. The overall colour seems a bit off too, as it does in the other images. Perhaps a check of hte white balance would help get some of the natural clour back into the panda's faces and fur. The panda's expression is gorgeous.

[marcotrov]

#1 is nice portrait Mal but agree with Killa
cheers
marco

[Mal]

Looks to have been difficult shooting conditions. The first image is brilliantly composed but the highlights on either side really detract from a great image. Perhaps a closer crop or even painting the highlights black might help. The overall colour seems a bit off too, as it does in the other images. Perhaps a check of hte white balance would help get some of the natural clour back into the panda's faces and fur. The panda's expression is gorgeous.

Thanks for the comments. Here is the cropped version, tried the black and even the blue on the highlights, it didn't work due to the "glowing" of the fur.
I have also adjusted the colour. This is their real colour.

[Killakoala]

Mal that is so much better, to me anyway. How do you feel about it?

[Mal]

Mal that is so much better, to me anyway. How do you feel about it?

Yeah I think it is better, now all I need to do is get the tissue out and clean its dribble!!!

[Killakoala]

Mal that is so much better, to me anyway. How do you feel about it?

Yeah I think it is better, now all I need to do is get the tissue out and clean its dribble!!!

I hope it didn't lick you.

[Mal]

I hope it didn't lick you.

A little dribble never hurt anyone, it’s when you are standing underneath one and it decides to relieve itself that I get upset.

But you should always remember that when dealing with multiple animals - always wash hands after being with one. There is nothing worse than having been with one animal and having it's smell on your hands then going to the next enclosure and that animal smelling "dinner" on you!!

You only make this mistake once! Mine involved a baby owl followed by a carpet snake 

[Sheetshooter]

Ignites the anthropomorphism in me. How delightful!!

[Mal]

Ignites the anthropomorphism in me. How delightful!!

an·thro·po·mor·phism n
the attribution of a human form, human characteristics, or human behavior to nonhuman things such as deities in mythology and animals in children’s stories

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Yes i had to look it up