A Day at the Zoo, or, How I Turned Animal Watching Into Art (and Mild Obsession)

Two years ago, I walked into the zoo with my Canon R5, Fujifilm X-T2, and a full arsenal of lenses, determined to capture some wildlife magic. If you’ve ever wondered how to spend an entire day pointing cameras at animals like you’re on assignment for National Geographic—while dodging spilled ice cream and overexcited toddlers—this is for you.

Armed with the Canon RF800 f/11 for far-off shots, the EF100 f/2.8L Macro for those close-ups that scream “LOOK AT THAT TEXTURE,” and the Fujifilm X-T2 with the 70-200mm f/3.5 for everything in between, I roamed the zoo like a man on a mission. Because let’s face it: these animals deserve a portfolio shoot.

The Gear That Made Me Feel Like a Wildlife Pro

You know you’ve hit peak “gear nerd” status when you bring multiple bodies and lenses to a zoo. Sure, most people are snapping photos with their smartphones, but I came prepared—like a SWAT team of one. The Canon R5 paired with the RF800mm lens was my secret weapon for long-distance subjects, and yeah, that lens looks like I’m trying to shoot the moon. People stared. I didn’t care.

The EF100mm f/2.8L Macro? That was for the up-close, "in-your-face" kind of shots that make people go, “Is that the texture of a bird’s beak or a leather couch?”

And then there was the Fujifilm X-T2 with the 70-200mm f/3.5—a reliable lens that covered all the in-between moments. Not too close, not too far. It’s the Goldilocks of lenses.

The Zoo: Nature’s Netflix, But Without a Skip Button

Zoos are interesting places. On one hand, they’re an explosion of life and wonder. On the other, they’re full of chaotic kids and adults who act like they’ve never seen a hippo before. Newsflash: They’re big, they float, and they’ll bite your face off if you get too close.

For me, though, the zoo was like a giant outdoor studio. Every enclosure felt like a new set. Every animal? A diva waiting for its close-up. From birds with attitude to hippos that just looked flat-out done with life, I realized quickly that if you look long enough, animals show you personality.

Some highlights?

• Birds standing in the rain, feathers glistening like they just walked out of a hair commercial.
• A hippo looking at me like I owed it money.
• Fish so perfectly lit, they might as well have hired their own lighting crew.
• And let’s not forget that quail. The most underrated bird in the zoo. Small, fluffy, and clearly judging me.

The Shots: Less About Perfection, More About the Story

Here’s the thing about wildlife photography in a zoo: It’s not about nailing the “perfect shot” every single time. You’re working with glass, unpredictable light, and animals that don’t care about your creative vision. Want a lion to turn its head to the left so the lighting hits just right? Too bad. It’s napping.

Instead, the magic happens in the imperfect moments. The muddy beak of a bird. The way water ripples around a half-submerged hippo. The slightly blurry fish swimming just a little too fast because, well, they’re fish.

Wildlife photography isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, observing, and letting the story unfold.

Gear + Grit = Results

The combination of long-range, macro, and mid-range lenses gave me the versatility to go big, go small, and go in-between. And yes, while everyone else was sipping sodas and taking selfies, I was lying on the ground, crouching behind fences, and contorting my body like a human pretzel for the shot. If you’re not mildly embarrassing yourself, are you even a photographer?

The Canon R5’s detail? Chef’s kiss.
The Fujifilm’s flexibility? Lifesaving.

At the end of the day, the zoo wasn’t just about animals—it was about seeing. Seeing details you’d normally miss. Seeing humor in a hippo’s grumpy expression. Seeing beauty in a bird’s rain-soaked feathers.

Takeaways for Any Aspiring Zoo Photographer

1. Bring the Right Tools: A mix of lenses will make sure you don’t miss a shot—whether it’s a bird perched 300 feet away or a fish gliding an inch in front of you.
2. Be Patient: Animals don’t follow directions. Wait. Breathe. Let the moment come to you.
3. Look for Stories: The grumpy stare, the sleepy quail, the water ripples. The magic is in the details.
4. Ignore the Stares: Yes, you’ll look ridiculous with a giant lens aimed at a sparrow, but the shot is worth it.
5. Have Fun: You’re not solving world hunger—you’re pointing cameras at cool animals. Enjoy it.

Two years later, these photos remind me why I love photography: it turns a regular zoo trip into a mini adventure. Every click of the shutter was a chance to freeze something real—something hilarious, beautiful, or downright weird.

So, if you’ve got a camera, go to the zoo. Bring the big lenses. Hunt for the small moments. And when a hippo stares you down, don’t flinch. Just click.

Because sometimes the best shots happen when you’re not trying too hard. 📸