I spent a gloriously sunny day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on a photography workshop with Pandora Maund and Kate Campbell from Going Digital. To add to the experience I also hired a Sigma 150-600mm lens from LensPimp. The results were outstanding! Here are just a small selection of the images I got...
There are three different prides of lion at the park, separated by water. We were in for a treat because Pandora had laid on access to the lion feed and we would get to see them up close.
Lion
The design of the park is ideal for photography. Often the walkways are raised, giving great vantage points of the animals. The lions were sat bathing in the sun, high above the fence line allowing us to get some fantastic unobscured shots.
Lion
Lion
As we waited for the feed, the lions and lionesses prowled beneath us eagerly awaiting their dinner.
Lioness
The 600mm focal length of the lens gave that extra bit of reach allowing me to get some brilliant close in heads shots.
Lioness
We were so close to the action for the feed that I popped the 24-70mm lens on, allowing me to go wider. It was also getting late in the day so the wider f/2.8 aperture allowed me to keep the shutter speeds higher and capture some fine detail.
Lions feeding
Initially, we walked past the tigers without getting a shot because they were sleeping away from our view. Later we returned to see if we could have better luck. And we were in for a treat!
Tiger
Again, the raised walkway allowed us to get some clear shots of the tigers as they strolled amongst their trees, rocks and wooden podiums.
Tiger
Such incredible animals. We could have stayed and watch them all day but there was plenty more we needed to see.
Tiger
The rhinos were at the back of their enclose, near to the fences. When photographing the animals it always makes for a much better shot if you can avoid including man-made elements such as fences in your shot.
Rhino
Luckily, these rhinos were pretty active today and they came right round to where we were standing and I got loads of great shots.
Rhino
Like the tiger, the polar bears had been inactive on our first pass but we returned to find one in the water later in the day. The shot everyone was after was the moment after the bear dives under the water, returns to the surface and then shakes the water from his head.
Polar bear
For the wallabies, it was possible to get right up close as you could join them in their enclosure.
Wallaby
I was trying to get a shot of one hopping around but they were too quick. Next time!
Wallaby
These young antelope were busily playing in the afternoon sun.
Antelope
There were plenty of adult warty pigs to photograph but the warty piglet stole the limelight.
Warty pig
Another close up shot, this time of the South American Saki monkey.
Saki
They usually live in the trees of the rain forest so they were quite happy up high in their tree houses.
Saki
The Saki is a shy and cautious animal so despite it being feeding time, they generally didn't stay for long before disappearing back into their trees.
Saki
Monkey
The Red Panda isn't actually closely related to a Giant Panda, in fact it's classified more closely with the racoon and skunk. The gorgeous colours make for a great image. This one was making it's way up for a feed, whilst others remained hidden away amongst the trees.
Red Panda
I was loving watching the otters play by the river bank. This one has a stone and appeared to be juggling it in the air.
Otter
The Gelada's were sat basking peacefully in the sun, at least until this male arrived with a flurry of noise and activity.
Gelada
We were able to access the Lemur woods and see the Lemur's up close as they fed.
Lemur
Lemur
The colours in eyes really make the image pop!
Lemur
As the day came to a close and the park quietened, we stood an observed the baboons.
Baboons
Some of them were perched high upon large logs.
Baboon
The younger baboons were active and playful, running and climbing each obstacle in the enclosure.
Baboon
I spent a gloriously sunny day at Yorkshire Wildlife park on a photography workshop with Pandora Maund and Kate Campbell from Going Digital. To add to the experience I also hired a Sigma 150-600mm lens. The results were outstanding!
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