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Author Topic: Zoo shots...cliches???  (Read 2073 times)

astrobeck

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Zoo shots...cliches???
« on: December 15, 2009, 07:46:10 PM »
Just wondering what the consensus here is on Zoo shots.

Are they cliches, or not.?

Just curious....



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Nigel

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2009, 08:15:25 PM »
I don't think necessarily so.  :-\

(of course I'm preparing myself to back down quickly in the face of overwhelming opposition!)
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Ed Wenn

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2009, 08:21:16 PM »
Not sure I've seen a lot of 'art' shots in a zoo so, I would say not. Obviously many family snaps and the like are taken in zoos, but it's a diferent arena...we're talking creative photography here, right, Becky?

(staning in line w/ Nigel ready to back down instantly should the need arise)

 :D :D
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Info Red

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2009, 08:41:04 PM »
Depends on who is doing the pointing of the camera; Garry Winogrand did terrific pix in that environment.  Any time I try something similar it just looks like more snaps at the Zoo! ;D

But, the same thing can be said about most situations photographically speaking - I have students in my photo one classes that occasionally rise above the trite and hackneyed, but most of the time it's yet another shot of a park bench, or Polar Bear, or pigeon eating popcorn - all taken from 4o or 50 feet away!   (Get closer, get closer, get closer, get...)

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astrobeck

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2009, 09:37:34 PM »
Quote from: ed.wenn on December 15, 2009, 08:21:16 PM
Not sure I've seen a lot of 'art' shots in a zoo so, I would say not. Obviously many family snaps and the like are taken in zoos, but it's a diferent arena...we're talking creative photography here, right, Becky?

(staning in line w/ Nigel ready to back down instantly should the need arise)

 :D :D

Ed,
Yes, creative.   :)

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Francois

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2009, 10:03:35 PM »
Well... if you consider Richard Avedon's "Dovima with Elephants", I would say definitely yes.

If you consider my meager attempts at taking "wildlife shots" in a zoo... definitely no.  ;)

(and ready to join the brave few who are ready to shift into reverse here :) )

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« Last Edit: December 15, 2009, 10:05:35 PM by Francois »
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Francois

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moominsean

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2009, 10:22:58 PM »
yeah like anything it just depends on the shot. i have a couple zoo shots that i like...

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gregor

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2009, 10:57:53 PM »
if they have a ferris wheel or carousel in the background, shot with any lomo camera and cross-processed color slide fim, the answer is yes. Otherwise no ;-)
« Last Edit: December 15, 2009, 10:59:47 PM by gregor »
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Francois

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2009, 11:51:05 PM »
I don't know if it's just me but I noticed animals tend to have strange behaviors when in front of the lens:

Like ostriches who seem to only care about taking a bite out of the camera (and shirt, and hair, and cap...)

If it's a giraffe, they're quite efficient at cleaning your lens...

All others turn their back on you as soon as they see you coming, having absolutely no interest in being pretty in pictures. To put it bluntly, rhino butt cracks don't make art. And when they do, it's usually smelly bronze sculptures.

For me, zoos have become a big no-no.
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Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

moominsean

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #9 on: December 16, 2009, 02:15:42 AM »
speaking of...

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chricela

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2009, 01:48:58 PM »
..I always look forward to spending the day wasting film at the Zoo. Not cliche!


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gothamtomato

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2009, 02:18:30 PM »
I know a photographer who shoots nothing but zoo shots, but he shoots them in a way that you'd think he'd been on safari.
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calbisu

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Re: Zoo shots...cliches???
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2009, 08:43:40 PM »
I have one too, well, to be honest it was a Circus, but there were elephants! Actually the elephants guardian was not too keen to let me photographs, as it happened they had escaped few hours before and... well it?s a long story but that?s the reason he is looking inquisitively to the camera...



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