Zoo 2014 - 4

This is the final post from this trip to the zoo. I had another since then, but will add to that in a few weeks after we get to the lovely spring blossoms on the fruit trees are in Saskatoon. Those will be in my next post in a few days.

First, we start with a nice action series of a duck taking off. I love this time of year when the waterfowl is so active and you get a lot of good action shots of them taking off and landing, as you might've seen in my last post with some landings and saber rattling.

I don't know what it is, but the kids always seem most interested in the farm animals. I suppose it's no different than when I encountered a rabbit in my last visit. I looked over and saw an animal not in a cage and wasn't sure what I was seeing. Then, they proceeded to hop no more than 4 feet away from me. I suppose the cages take away the fascination even more than a young child watching their mother feed a simple chicken.

I'm always cautious when photographing people and their children. There are a lot of people who are opposed to having their photo taken, and I understand and respect that. However, these people were really friendly and more concerned that they were blocking my way than anything. I whispered back but they were not and asked if I could take a picture. Of course, they said yes. The caged animals will be there for a long time. It's the unique moments like this that I love to sit and enjoy, especially with our own little one on their way. Maybe I'll be feeding the chickens to the enjoyment of our child in a year or less.

It was getting pretty hot and just as I was leaving the zoo I spotted a peacock hiding under the bushes, getting some shade. It was a very nice and peaceful way to end that visit to the zoo. Both arriving and leaving I was just a few feet away from a nice peacock.

Zoo 2014 - 2

It has been very good to be able to get back up to the zoo again in nothing more than a T-shirt or two. There really isn't a whole lot to say about these photos so sit back and enjoy! I will add commentary where necessary.

This Peacock is not headless, just grooming itself under its wing. I certainly had the pleasure of being very close to it for a long period of time. Those calls it lets out sure are startling, though.

This little guy was born less than a week ago and was just the cutest little thing galloping across the field to get to its mother. Of course, I missed that shot because I think I may have spooked him and caused him to run across as I approached. That's why I didn't have my camera up and ready.

There will be more to come in a few days from this trip and, as of the writing of this, I've had two more excellent photo walks with results to post. They will be coming in the next little while as time to work on them and write posts comes.

So Good to Be Back to the Zoo

Aside from the poor crumbling roads and paths, it was really good to get back to the zoo for the first time this year. The best part about it was going with my best friend and his family and my wife. I am looking forward to a great season of animals and flowers and am going to try to take the time to let the camera sit around my neck for a few minutes and appreciate what I am seeing instead of just shooting the whole time. That said, when I am setting up lights for a flower photo I do have time to appreciate my surroundings.

Sometimes it is difficult to remember the size and wildness of these huge creatures just one small fence away from us. Had we seen these from a vehicle in Jasper a few summers ago it would have been more of a flight response that sitting here watching these hulks almost smiling at us.

"Soft kitty,
Warm kitty,
Little ball of fur.…"

No, I have never had the opportunity to shoot at the zoo at night. What an experience that I would be. I would be most grateful for the fences then and would always be looking over my shoulder.

The photo of this lynx was taken in broad daylight but a few tweaks to the exposure and white balance gave it more of a moonlit luck. Not unlike my albino python photo from Reptile World.

This bison calf was born just a few days prior. Amazing how quickly they are so independent and happy to be not a small distance away from their mothers just relaxing in the cool mud and manure.

I was impressed that both Fox's were out and very active when we were there. It must have been the comfortably cool temperature. The swift foxes, pictured above, had spotted something that we could not identify and were running back and forth at the front of their habitat looking for a way out.

The red fox could be found in its usual spot below the seeder.

I am looking forward to getting back to the zoo on a weekday when it will be a little bit quieter. It was not busy but if you are the people the more relaxing I find it and the better the photos I typically get.

I fear that this year a popular route for a friend and I to wheel, from the SaskTel sports center to the forestry farm will be off limits as the pedestrian path is always soft and muddy and significant portions of the road we used to go on have been turned to course crushed rock and gravel; not wheelchair friendly. I hope that there are some reasonable repair plans in the budget this year. I don't enjoy seeing one of my favorite places deteriorating like that.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo 2012 - 8

Not usually so easy to see or get a good photo of.

Early arrival times make for serene, empty paths like these. It was entirely peaceful at the zoo until about 10 am. As much as I like to start my visits in the flower gardens when the light is better and the air stiller, I may start the occasional visit in the zoo.

This photo was taken on the same visit as the one above. I decided to take the counterclockwise route which made for trees I'd never noticed before, angles on scenes I don't usually see. This also produced a chicken under a shrub.

As I rounded the corner I saw these two little ones. The instant they saw me they scurried under their mother's plumage. I had to switch lenses and waited patiently for them to come out, but aside from a little head poking up oh so briefly I couldn't get the closeup I'd hoped for. Cute, nonetheless.