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Photo Information
Copyright: David Plummer (DiaAzul) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 23 W: 8 N: 52] (152)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-07-31
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon EF70-200/2.8IS
Exposure: f/4, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 40 points or more - 40 puntos o más [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-08-02 4:18
Viewed: 3250
Favorites: 5 [view]
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I don't think I need to tell you that this is a Zebra. I have always wanted to get a good picture of one, and Saturday I got lucky at the zoo.

But why does this particular Zebra need saving? Well, I could not help but be really sad going around the Paris zoo in Park St. Vincent. I am a big believer that zoo's are an important part of any major city. I do not subscribe to the view that it is cruel to keep animals in a zoo. If the zoo is well designed and the animals are well looked after then there is a mutual benefit on both sides, for animals and for humans. My reason for supporting the concept of a zoo is that it is often the only way that people can get contact with animals, and for children it is important to provide a centre where they can be educated about nature, wildlife, conservation and protection of species. The television, whilst a great device for education, does not have the same impact as a trip to the zoo on a childs imagination. The second is that many zoos are very active in researching animal behavour and how we can best protect what little remains of endangered species, how to ensure their survival and how we may re-introduce and ensure increase of the planets bio-diversity.

So why was I sad going round this particular zoo? Well, it is falling apart, a large number of enclosures are empty, the zoo not having sufficient funding to keep the animals any longer. The lions have been moved out because their enclosure had become unsafe and was falling apart. All in all it was a sad and dilapidated affair. My only wish is that the French government either privatise it, or fund it properly, but not just leave it to rot away.
zto, PDP, carper, Robbrown, elroyie, Nina, japie, Luko, gerhardt, AndyB, Riz, avigur_11, mogens-j, Dingo, Marcie, Pedda, JeanMichel, gazo, Luc, justrob, cwong, Ina, aktolga, Active, reynocum has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Callie: Good points on croppingDiaAzul 1 08-02 14:12
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zto Silver Star Critiquer [C: 36 W: 6 N: 0] (0)
  • [2004-08-02 4:28]
  • [2]

He he, what a great point of view David. The head almost blends in with the body. Very well seen. It looks very graphic. A really intresting composition for sure. A great and sad note too David

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-08-02 5:05]
  • [2]

Excellent viewpoint David, I really like the tight crop and the effect of the zebra's patterning. Detail is good too, well done!

Good notes as well.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2004-08-02 5:06]
  • [2]

Very good taken David,
Those line make the depth in the composition, I like it very much, very good job

Superbe prise de vue David, prendre ce zèbre de face était je pense la meilleur idée, l'effet d'optique de ses rayures est bien marqué.

Good shot love the vanish lines a real opitcal illusion. Note is very good and sensitive too.

Very good composition, yo need to move it to architecture :-)
The lines are great and the crop is very good, interesting frame.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 105 N: 2609] (7531)
  • [2004-08-02 13:52]
  • [3] [+]

David
A very unusual POV on this pyjama donkey! The graphics make this work even to the cut-off ears. However, I might consider cropping closed left and right, right up to his legs, to loose the small trapezoidals in the bottom, or change the left one also to black, It will have more impact then.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-08-02 15:02]
  • [2]

If a tick saw this photo he will rather attack a horse than to get lost in these lines. Very nice angle and capture and it shows how effective this type of camoflage can be. Imagine a lion chasing down a herd of lines like these - makes me dizzy just thinking of it. Your note makes me sad and I hope someone with influence reads it.

Superb compo, David, very well seen and done !

La composition est originale et l'image bien réalisée. Les zèbres sont des animaux photogéniques. Ca me fait penser à une photo du dernier numéro de la revue "Chasseur d'images".

  • Great 
  • Luko Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 30 W: 6 N: 53] (126)
  • [2004-08-02 17:31]
  • [3]

Very nice and original Point of view, it looks like the lions or other big cats could use a zebra as a target on the wall for the next all africa dart competition... goes well with the title and the general idea, btw... your pic would even mistake us that they don't even move and stand into that perfect target position.

it'll be the first Trek nature image I'll put in my favs box.

  •      
  • gerhardt Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1976 W: 259 N: 4103] (11585)
  • [2004-08-03 1:18]

Nice tight crop, works for me. This Zebra is still in a good condition. So is your compsition. ;) My hairs stand on end when I read notes like yours. Paris being such a large city one would imagine that enough people go to Zoo so sufficient funding can be obtained. It is a pity.

Parisians go the Zoo, NOW!

Thanx for sharing.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-08-03 2:23]

A great shot.
Excellent detail and sharpness and the tight crop works very well.
Very good work,well done.

Impressive angle on this zebra, very good sharpness and DOF.

Is this a zebra, David ;-)
Wonderful composition of lines and pattern, and a very original angle. She looks very fat. Very good job.

  • Great 
  • orme Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 49 W: 0 N: 57] (186)
  • [2004-08-04 4:51]

A well framed shot, David. Excellent detail and an interesting note.

Great capture David. Very graphic and funny effect playing with the colours of this Zebra - the head allmost disappears. Well seen and well captured.

Points tomorrow.

  • Great 
  • leo (25)
  • [2004-08-06 6:16]
  • [2]

David:

I have worked in zoos and I share your views with you. Governments and burocrats are an unhealthy combination for nature as is...so one can expect the worse for a public zoo.

Public zoos can be underbudget, overlooked and prone to lack of modernization. Often the people who visit them don't pay or entrance fees are so low that they cannot sustain the zoos. However, if you privatize or rise the fees the public will go nuts!!!

The wellfare of the animals is not the first choice in this kind of scenario. So here is a proposal...your picture is very good, it is very graphic and fun to watch, your guear is that of a pro, so why don't you document more of the zoo with pictures as a self imposed job and use your skills to document a zoo story.

By the way no two zebras have the same pattern of stripes!!!

Regards

Leo Garcia / Venezuela

  • Great 
  • Marcie (0)
  • [2004-08-11 0:05]

Fabulous shot, David! I like that even the background is b&w. Thanks for your thoughtful note as well!

  • Great 
  • Pedda Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 40 W: 1 N: 246] (1273)
  • [2004-08-24 15:58]

Excellent picture but a sad story about the zoo. Like the way the head melts together with the rest of the body. Great details and DOF

I'm pleased to meet you here, David, with an exceptional almost graphic photo perfectly cropped to maintain your view, ingenious incongruent POV, your trademark and thanks to use this to pull the attention for a Zoo in distress. Toghetter it makes an outstanding journalistic example.

This is simply amazing and beautiful. There is lot's of ways to photograph an animal, but this is very special, as you are mixing an abstract design (Vasarely style, and others) into an animal picture. Artistic thinking process, photographic mastery... the result is very original and brings us a splendid image. Congratulations.

  • Great 
  • gazo Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 74 W: 0 N: 13] (88)
  • [2004-10-13 16:40]

Great photo. Nice composition, superb effect.

  • Great 
  • Ina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 111 W: 6 N: 101] (767)
  • [2005-03-19 4:24]

Lovely picture... You just got the perfect angel of this special animal and your note is good an importent... Thanks...

  • Great 
  • Active Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 113 W: 6 N: 19] (1231)
  • [2005-10-18 14:02]

This composition is amzaing. Great capture, colors, POV, sharpness, depth...many, many other!!! For me it`s a master shot - congratulations!
TFS
rgds
Barbara

It's an eye-opener. Other's might have said it already but symmetry seldom works like this in photos. Thanks.

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