Zoo Photography: Bird Portraits

Since the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore let out its warm-climate birds, it's been even better shooting at the zoo. There's a reason why bird photography is one of the most beloved form of photography, and it's easy to see when you observe the zoo's collection. Unfortunately while shooting at the zoo you're unlikely to get a shot that looks like it was taken in the bird's natural environment. Many zoos have done a great job creating aviaries that replicate natural habitats and allow the birds to fly, something many birds in exhibits can't do.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore has two aviaries which give photographers a chance to get shots that look like they might have been taken in the wild. These environments, however, aren't always enough to get the shot since you still have man-made objects and people around.
The best solution, I've come to find out, is to isolate the animal as much as possible, sometimes even shooting portrait.

1. This lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is a beautiful sight to behold. It's a shame to shoot it on land while it's not tearing through some carcass, flying through the air, or perched on some long-gnarled branch under the African sun. When shooting it, I made sure to avoid buildings, fences, or other animals that clearly show that it was taken in the zoo. In the first shot, I wanted to show its powerful legs and talons. The second shot is to emphasize its facial features.

2. I was lucky to shoot this Abdim's Stork (Ciconia abdimii) just as it was taking off in the aviary. You can see two large wires holding up nets at the top, although a wide aperture has done a great job of blurring out the background.

3. Normally docile, these Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo) have moments when they let themselves known to the rest of the world. Here I caught it as it was in the middle of its trumpeting call. They embody both beauty and grace.

4. Growing up in Rwanda, nothing excited us kids as to see crested cranes flying. They were rare and we believed killing one was equal to killing a person. I recall seeing a pair land in the field next to my first grade classroom in 1989 or 1990 and those two were the only ones I've ever seen not in captivity. My admiration of these birds led me to write a radio play titled "The Dance of the Golden Cranes" which was a finalist in a BBC radio play writing contest in 2010. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore only has West African Crested Cranes (Balearica pavonina pavonina) on exhibit.

5. This Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is one of the zoo's Animal Ambassadors and is not on exhibit. It was attached to the handler's arm as it was trying to fly off so I had to keep her out of the frame and get that 'ready-to-sail' look. Once again a wide aperture, I mostly use f/5.6, helps eliminate background clutter and isolate the subject.

6. I caught this female Abyssinian Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus) in what looks like it could be its natural environment.

7. There's nothing special about this Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) other than it feels the frame, without cropping, and is sharp against a blurred water background in which it's swimming. It might even pass as having been taken in the wild.

8. I loved these Fulvous Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna bicolor) for more than their looks. They seem to have great personalities and are nearly always lively. I took these as they perched on the railing of the aviary walkway. If I had a faster lens I would have attempted to capture them in flight, but my lens Auto-focuses like molasses so I missed those...the portraits more than made up for it, though. The fence and people in the background were blurred and the dark blots complement the duck's dark feathers.

9. The Blue-Bellied Roller (Coracias cyanogaster) is probably one of the most beautiful birds I've ever seen. The blurred dry reeds in the background match the bird's light brown feathers and counteract its darker features.

10. The Common Raven (Corvus corax) exhibit at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is one of the hardest to shoot. The ravens don't stay still for more than a second or so, and they're either too close to the foreground or the background fences. They're really beautiful birds and the purple on their feathers makes them even more so. The Baltimore Ravens football team takes its name and colors (black and purple) from these birds. The team's official mascots, Rise and Conquer, reside at the zoo.

11. Regarded by many as the most beautiful of all ducks, if not birds, is the male North American Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). It's not hard to see why with all its beautiful coloring. The hay in the background helps give the impression that it was taken in the wild. One reason I like to shoot ducks in the water is that it helps hide the ring tags on their legs. If the birds are out of the water, I try to find a way not to show the tags.

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