Zoos … love ‘em or hate ‘em? I think it depends on the zoo. I much prefer open range zoos where the animals have tons of space to roam around and live almost as they would in the wild.
Choose the right zoo:
The type of zoo you choose makes all the difference to your photography (and to the animals). Zoos with large open areas for the animals to roam tend to make better photographs because the images look more natural when you cannot see any fences.
Wait for a special moment:
When the animals are right there in front of you don't just snap away because you can. When you have this opportunity to be so close to them try to be patient and wait for a special moment to make a unique image.
Dealing with fences and rails:
If you are at the kind of zoo with fences, you can use a wide aperture to reduce the depth of field which should make any fences out-of-focus. This is easier to achieve if there is greater distance between the animal and the fence.
It is also easier to make the fence disappear if it does not have direct light on it. Find a portion of the fence that is in the shade if it is in front of or behind your subject.
Going to the zoo is always a pleasure. But getting those money shots can be derailed by a fence or something else. Picking a quality zoo would be the best choice, and since a lot of us can't make it to a safari get-away. This is the next best thing.