Zurich Zoo
Year
2023
Workspace
ETH
Type of Tools
Sony Alpha 7 & Nikon
Photoshop
Lightroom
Briefing
During my apprenticeship at ETH, I took a photography course. At the end of the course, we went to the Zurich Zoo as a class. The challenge was to photograph the animals in such a way that the pictures weren’t blurry and the focus was sharp. We were allowed to move around the zoo freely and had a lot of fun doing it!
«Hauskaninchen»
1/6
When taking this photo, it was easy for me to set up the camera properly because there wasn't any strong sunlight.
This rabbit almost blended into its surroundings. It was the only animal in the outdoor enclosure at the time, so I tried to take a picture of it. I made sure to stay completely still so it wouldn't run away.
Koala
2/6
Since the koala was in a large indoor enclosure, it was especially important to set the ISO value high enough to ensure the photo was properly exposed despite the lighting conditions.
With this koala, I had an unusually long time to adjust the camera settings properly because he was fast asleep.
«Kleiner Antillen-Leguan»
3/6
Every now and then, other iguanas would sneak around, but none of them sat as calmly and quietly as the one in the photo.
The iguana was basking peacefully in the sun, giving me the perfect opportunity to photograph it. From up close, I was able to observe and capture its impressive details. The biggest challenge was the difficult lighting conditions: The sunlight was very intense, while the background and surroundings were cast in deep shadow.
«Strausswachtel»
4/6
Even though the quail was very small, it seemed to me to be almost as fast as an ostrich!
This species of quail was incredibly fast. It didn't stay still for even a second, so I had to quickly adjust my camera settings to keep the image from blurring.
«Dschelada Affen»
5/6
Sometimes it’s easier not to photograph the actual event itself, but to focus on what’s happening around it.
These monkeys were extremely brutal toward one another. Again and again, they shoved each other off the cliffs and bit one another. It was both fascinating and impressive to watch them, yet I was determined to capture a special moment of theirs in a photograph.
«Rotstirn-Blatthühnchen»
6/6
The late afternoon light bathed the bird in a beautiful, warm glow, making this photo especially meaningful to me.
I came across this bird in the Masoala Hall. Thanks to its light weight, it was able to walk effortlessly across the floating plants. I was very lucky to capture the exact moment when it spread its wings wide.
The experiences I’ve had have been diverse: Above all, I’ve learned to be patient with myself. It’s important to research the animals beforehand, when they eat, when they rest, and what their typical behavior is like. I’ve also learned to quickly adjust my camera settings to the situation. Keeping an eye not only on the moment itself but also paying close attention to the surroundings can be crucial for capturing special shots.