On Location: Brookfield Zoo

  Welcome back, folks! I hope you like the website so far.  I have more work to put in, but with the wedding season right around the corner for me, I need to prioritize in favor of my clients.  Not to worry though a bio, pricing sheet, and more content are on their way.   How so ever I have to report on my trip that finished up the ninja project that snuck in before the site went live again.  That project was a black and white photography set of black and white animals or otherwise called B/W-imals!  To report on it I want to take you to see some of the animals I witnessed at Brookfield Zoo. So join me as we go on a safari!  
(all images were shot on a Canon 80D with a 70-200mm f/4 USM L lens)
(Bendersama's Lightroom Preset Collection: Summer 2017 was used for the pictures below)

  I first rolled into the parking lot giving myself an out time of 2pm, as I didn't want to be too late and I wanted to beat traffic going home.  The plan was to first hit the primate area.  I swung by the second enclosure and stopped to snap Sofia...

Sofia using "Porch Swing" preset

 She's an adorable mamas smiling and showing off her baby.  The animals, for the most part, were still kinda waking up, and so I pressed on to the Lowland Gorillas.  that's where I met Jojo...

Jojo using "Deep End"

  I could tell he was anxious about the people showing up now around him, and was slowly unimpressed and even annoyed as he later went down for a nap.  How so ever I did meet his assumed mate and child as they constantly would stick by him and then go about their business; which for the mate included her eating a handful of her own poop (no picture needed), and Jojo's son curiously watching and playing peek-a-boo with me.  

Mom and Kid using "Sunburned Watermelon"

kid001 using "Sunburnde watermelon"

kid002 using "Sunburned Watermelon"

kid003 using "Sunburned Watermelon"

kid004 using "Sunburned Watermelon"

So Jojo became the fourth animal I needed for my B/Wimals project, a Black and White photography set that celebrated the fact that you don't need flashy color to catch the viewer's eye. Here they all are:
 

So with time to spare I thought I might revisit some of the animals used in the project, or just go visit some new ones! Coming out of the primate den, I made my way to the penguin area, but not without taking a shot of this fine Bison for my friend Tony!

Tatanka using "Setting Sun"

This guy was asking for his photo moving so close to the fence we all could almost touch him.  As I was saying, I made my way to the penguins.

Penpen001  using "Sunburned Watermelon"

Penpen002  using "Boomsicle"

Shortly thereafter, I made a loop starting around the marsupials.  I was noticing at noonish the animals were too hot and needed some shade.  Just look at the tired Kangaroo napping in the flowers.

Roo   using "Porch Swing"

Pygmy Hippo  using "Deep End" 

  Still there were others trying to keep cool by taking a plunge like the (above) Pygmy Hippo, or just staying inside for a snack like (below) the Black Rhino.

Black Rhino  using "Setting Sun"

The last leg of the trip was to check out the Giraffes and the Zebra who were getting a late lunch.

Jeff  using "Porch Swing" 

Zebra  using "Porch Swing"

  As the animals readied themselves for a midafternoon nap,  I had to bid them adieu.  It was 2:30pm and I was out of time.  I plan to come back again, maybe in the fall, to see more of the animals who would rather be in the shade than be roaming. Until then though, that was my trip to Brookfield Zoo.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed both being there and taking the photos.  I'll see you all next week as I show you a photography technique that I'll be bringing to my wedding clients over the next couple months.  Until then thanks for stopping by!