shooting through a fence

[ValerieP]

Dh and I went to the Mirage's Secret Garden and there are wire fences between the tigers and my camera- now a couple of them I was able to focus so the wire fence disappeared, but a couple I was not, and so- what did I do to make the fence go away-I have another 2 for 1 ticket so I can go back again before the end of May and get some tiger/lion shots if I can figure this out-any ideas?

[DonnaNJ]

I have that problem when I shoot my sons baseball games.. I put the lense right up to the hole in the fence.. even if a little of it is still showing in the corners, the camera ignores it and focuses on the subject. Then I just crop it when I get home.

Also, once i was trying to take photos of the kids coming down the logflume and there was a fence in the way so I found a nearby bench to stand on and shoot over the fence. BTW the security people are generally not real pleased with you standing on benches :-)

[ValerieP]

The Secret Garden has it so that I cant get close enough to the fence to shoot through it-probably a good idea since these cats can really tear a person up if they want

[dugarner]

Valerie, I do the same thing Donna mentioned. I've taken umpteen pictures at zoos between the lattice openings on the fence. I put my lens (gently) up against the fence and focus so that the wires aren't in the way, and then zoom in as far as I can. Generally, you can't see the wires, but sometimes you can on the edges, and then when I put it in a book, I position the photo so you can't see the fence.

I love your kitty shots! Especially the lion sleeping in the sun. They really are such lazy creatures.

[iUma]

Don't know the answer but i WANT to go there!!

[katrinak]

Great photos! Zoos are fun spots to play.

You made the fence disappear with a combination of focal length, aperture and distance between you and the fence. Shoot with your longest lens, at its longest focal length with an aperture around 4.0-5.6 or so.

If you are closer to the fence than the animal is and there isn't direct light shining on the fence you should be able to make it disappear. Ideally you want the animal to have quite a bit of distance from the fence to make it work well.

[ValerieP]

That was it! The sun was on the fences I couldnt make disappear, because I did have the longest lens with the longest focal length! So in order to get shots of the other tigers I will have to go at a different time! I can do that-Thanks for the advice-cant wait till your new class starts! And even if I dont make it back to these tigers, I plan to go the National Zoo in July so this is good practice!

[DesignerDigitals]

Here is a complete article on shooting Zoo Photography.

[ValerieP]

Thanks Randy!

[readstoomuch]

I have been trying to wedge my lens through the chain link fence holes all of baseball season this year . . . so I was excited to read this post yesterday. At last nights baseball game I did what Katrina said to do . . . I got to sit on the bleachers and not plaster myself against the fence and I shot away! I did have direct sunlight right on the fence and in my eyes. We were facing west for two hours before sunset and boy was it bright. But, I loved the effect that the sun gave my photos. Some had streaks and some had the coolest sort of bokah spots that I love. I posted a few of the sun-struck shots on the DD Flicker site last night.

Thanks Katrina & Randy for the tips and thanks to you too, Valerie for posting this question. I had no idea that I didn't have to hog the fence.