- Joined
- May 1, 2008
- Messages
- 25,414
- Reaction score
- 4,998
- Location
- UK - England
- Website
- www.deviantart.com
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
continuation from here: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1351872
I won't argue the legitimate front - when I go to the zoo I know I am not photographing wild animals in the wild (though many zoo animals are still wild) and I don't ever try to pass off my photos as anything but what they are - to me being able to manouver to a position devoide of manmade objects and without the smear of glass is a sign of some skill in the zoo field - different skills definatly to stalking an animal in the wild but none the less a skill.
As for the prison effect I agree - I don't disagree that zoos - of any size - are like prisions and are not the best place for animals and that to be gawped at day in day out by kids, parents and canons () must be torment. Further bordem in such confined spaces must be further tormenting to the animals - however I am under no illusions that zoos are needed to keep many species alive. Wild stocks are always under threat from habitat loss and damage as well as the risk from poachers/hunters as well as the ever increasing human encrochement on wild areas.
Parks and nature reserves go a long way to help prevent these problems, but in many of these (Vastly too small) areas its very hard to balance the populations of species to keep the numbers always up without having a detrimental effect on another species. Thus zoos are needed as breeding grounds - to keep the stocks present and the genetic variety as varied as we can achive
Its not ideal but it is a step forward
here we go:As I've said before, going to the zoo to take photos of "wildlife" is like going to a prison to shoot portraits. Plenty of people here will disagree for many reasons. They're retarded. The people and the reasons. Not being able to afford an African safari doesn't make zoo photography any more legitimate as far as I'm concerned.
Bring it on, zoo photographers! Or don't bother. I don't care.
Edit: I feel like nobody is going to say anything tonight but I'll check this thread tomorrow after work and there will be 30 replies.
I won't argue the legitimate front - when I go to the zoo I know I am not photographing wild animals in the wild (though many zoo animals are still wild) and I don't ever try to pass off my photos as anything but what they are - to me being able to manouver to a position devoide of manmade objects and without the smear of glass is a sign of some skill in the zoo field - different skills definatly to stalking an animal in the wild but none the less a skill.
As for the prison effect I agree - I don't disagree that zoos - of any size - are like prisions and are not the best place for animals and that to be gawped at day in day out by kids, parents and canons () must be torment. Further bordem in such confined spaces must be further tormenting to the animals - however I am under no illusions that zoos are needed to keep many species alive. Wild stocks are always under threat from habitat loss and damage as well as the risk from poachers/hunters as well as the ever increasing human encrochement on wild areas.
Parks and nature reserves go a long way to help prevent these problems, but in many of these (Vastly too small) areas its very hard to balance the populations of species to keep the numbers always up without having a detrimental effect on another species. Thus zoos are needed as breeding grounds - to keep the stocks present and the genetic variety as varied as we can achive
Its not ideal but it is a step forward