Jay Scott Photography

Edmonton Zoo – 2

According to the sign, this is the largest captive python in North America.

Funny looking haircut for this llama but I’m sure it’s cooler for it during the summer.

UPDATE:

Edmonton Zoo – 1

This begins my series of photos from our summer holidays in Edmonton and Jasper National Park. Not all shots are masterpieces, but they will hopefully give you a scenic tour of what we saw on our trip.

On the way to Edmonton we heard on the radio that it was family day at the zoo and that there demonstrators protesting animal cruelty. We reconsidered our first stop, but decided to check it out anyway since we didn’t have any better ideas.

Everything was fine. There were no signs of demonstrators and the zoo wasn’t nearly as busy as I expected it to be.

They definitely had more exotic animals than the Saskatoon zoo, but the admission was just slightly more. I understand how economies of scale work, but I was envious of their zoo wishing Saskatoon had a bit better paved paths and a few more interesting animals.

Though there was much to see, many of my shots had the zoo look. It wasn’t until we were asking ourselves where the elephant was that we stopped mid-sentence as we rounded a corner to see her being moved from one area to her environment. I began shooting, not realizing that her path would lead her less than four feet away from me.

This uncropped photo was taken with a 70mm focal length. For readers unaware of the meaning of focal lengths, the human eye sees very near a 50mm focal length perspective. This was approximately a 1.3x magnification factor. Just imagine how close you would need to be to this girl for her eye and face to fill you field of vision. That was my reaction, also.

The Cutest Serious Look Ever

Spring Has Come 2

The rest of my butterfly shots from last Sunday. They certainly seemed to be feasting on those huge white blooms. I hope the number of species is more diverse this year as it progresses.

Spring Has Come

Finally, after weeks of record breaking rain, with just a few weeks to go until the official start of summer, the flowers have begun to bloom. I certainly enjoy the animals of the zoo, but the flowers are my focus this year.

I’ve wondered what life in BC might be like. I think I could handle the significant signs of spring four months earlier than here in Saskatchewan, but the rain & cloud might be too much for me. I don’t know if it was the actual cloud and rain, or the delay of spring it caused here, that made this spring feel like such a waste if not non-existent. Perhaps in BC the signs of life for so much more of the year, even with the cloud and rain, would balance it out. Just some thoughts caused by the recent weather.

I began my trip last Sunday with the recently opened butterfly garden.

More of the Little Green Guy

This time with my dear addition of some artificial lighting and, because of it, eight times more depth of field. Hopefully he’ll be more active on the next visit.

Saskatoon Zoo 2010 – 3

For the sixteenth time (literally) the male lion had no interest in the other visitors at the window. I quietly approached the enclosure and watched for at least five minutes from a distance to see if there was much response from the lions to the patrons. They seemed very uninterested.

As soon as I started wheeling toward the exhibit he came running up to the fence. I can only assume he heard my chair. As I sat by the viewing window he paced back and forth sniffing and nosing the window right in front of me. The behavior was completely different from what I saw five minutes earlier and in the past.

I don’t know if I look tasty, entertaining or what, but it was a really nice welcome back.

Saskatoon Zoo 2010 – 2

More from my first visit of the year.

Back to the Zoo

It’s been a bit quiet around here the last week. My apologies for that. I think I was just enjoying Angie being home so much that I just wanted to spend time with her & Kiwi. We went to the university on Sunday for a great walk and just enjoyed the day. The nice weather has been wonderful, but I haven’t been out much to enjoy it beyond our deck.

I did write a guest post on DIY Photography which I refined and submitted on Monday.

I was waiting for a repair on my van which would be done on Wednesday. The service included an oil change and seasonal inspection. The expected repair was virtually free but one of my inner CV boots was split and most of the grease was washed out. That meant another day in the shop Thursday and today the drizzle and cooler temperatures finds me here, typing and processing photos. I’m glad the repair came in lower than estimated.

I’ve decided to post my zoo photos of 2010 as I take them rather than waiting until winter to sort, process and post the photos. It may mean greater time between posts instead of a long running series over a shorter time, but I feel it will better meet my goals of sharing what I’m working on with you as I shoot it. If most of my work is at the zoo & forestry farm and I wait to post it until winter this site would be a pretty quiet place until then.

Without further rambling, here are a few shots from my first trip to the zoo in 2010:

Garter Snake

From my second trip to the zoo this year. Vibrant stripe on the back of this little active guy.

Purple Poochie

One of my postponed shots was of Kiwi after her latest grooming. She has taken to sitting on the back of the couch with her chin resting on the half-wall.

Saskatoon Zoo & Forestry Farm 2009 – Post 10

The kids were taking after their mother.

Saskatoon Zoo & Forestry Farm 2009 – Post 9

I don’t know if it was because I said, “hello” the first time I saw them or if it was because I spent more time watching them than most patrons, but those two lions, but especially the male, came running every time I arrived. They’d pose, play and show off every time. Other visitors saw this and asked me about it. I had no definite answer for them, but knew it wasn’t just my imagination after their observation of the lions’ behavior.

Saskatoon Zoo & Forestry Farm 2009 – Post 8

Saskatoon Zoo & Forestry Farm 2009 – Post 7