Quoting [EMAIL PROTECTED]: > That's exactly what I have been wanting to say... > You can spend all the money in the world for a super > duper telephoto lens or you can save your money and have > some patience and still get the shot. I'm not > saying a long lens isn't sometimes necessary, > but patience does not cost you > anything but time.
Precisely, Vic. AND! while you're waiting, you may actually enjoy yourself, to boot! Afterall, for most animal enthusiasts, I'd venture to say that while in the field, getting the shot quite often becomes secondary (unless there's a paycheck involved). However, when I started, I remember having this impression / expectation of being able to go to the zoo, walk the usual route while occasionally snapping photos, and coming home with a splendid photo of each animal I saw <vbg>. Well, let me assure you... there's no camera (or lens) in the world that's gonna make that happen. And even if there was, I'm not sure I'd want it. My most recent project involved the gorilla photos that I posted in this thread. Yes, that involved a 400mm f2.8, and a handful of TC's... but it also involved 2 rainy days at the zoo, for about 5 hours each day... all spent at the same exhibit. And even though I was there for a collective 12 hours, I likely shot for a combined 45 minutes. That's just how it is sometimes. The thing is, that exhibit is HUGE (I think the first or second largest in the country), so those gorillas can spend the whole day out of sight if they want to. But you have to remember: It's a ZOO! I haven't been to one yet (been to about 10 so far) where (for 90% of the exhibits) there wasn't SOME part of the exhibit within 200mm full-frame range. And at *some point in time*, the subject WILL hit that mark... with the pose, lighting and everything else being perfect. The only question is, will you be there when it happens? [sidenote: the advantage to long lenses is that you likely won't have to wait *as long*... but ya still gotta wait]. After 10 hours with the gorillas, I have to say that I really learned 'em! And am looking forward to spending similar time with them some day soon. By now, I can damn near tell you when one is about burp or hiccup <g>. Heck, with shutter speeds of 1/30 sec., I simply had to figure these things out. But in all, the experince was great. For one, I bonded with my subjects (as absurd as that sounds), learned a lot, and walked away with tons more than a few photographs. Heck, it was even enough to warrant a short essay on the trip. Shameless plug: http://www.exposedfilm.net/g1_essay.htm Secondly, it gave me an incredible appreciation for how difficult it must be to do such things "for real" (i.e., outside of captivity). So, yeah, I'm all for the patience approach. I think it makes for a better experience on so many different levels that it's amazing. Good equipment helps, but it sure as hell ain't everything. I've got hundreds of bad photos in my garbage to prove it.
