Houston Zoo #6

The last of my shots from the Bay Area Photo Club field trip to the Houston Zoo last weekend.

Title: "Cheetah"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom

Houston Zoo #5

Another shot from the Houston Zoo field trip last weekend. This is Miles, the zoo's new baby giraffe (just a couple of weeks old at this time I believe).

Title: "Miles"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom

Houston Zoo #4

Here's my shot of Jonathan, the Houston Zoo's male African Lion.

Title: "King Jonathan"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100/400mm L zoom

Houston Zoo #3

Another shot from the Bay Area Photo Club field trip to the zoo this past Saturday.

Title: "My Little Friend"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400mm L zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Background Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Clarity" preset for improved sharpness > Duplicate Layer > Cloning to remove a few small high contrast distractors > Curves Adjustment Layer for improved contrast > Merge Visible to New Layer > Nik Viveza plugin to increase local brightness in the eyes > Add New Layer in Multiply blending mode and paint a custom vignette with black brush

Houston Zoo #2

Another shot taken on the Bay Area Photo Club's outing to the Houston Zoo this past Saturday.

Title: "You Talking to Me?"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Background Layer > High Pass Sharpening in Hard Light blending mode > Merge Visible to New Layer in Multiply blending mode to increase contrast with layer mask to protect the eyes > Merge Visible to New Layer > Duplicate Layer > Blur Lens Blur to soften the image with mask to protect the face > Add New Layer and paint with black in multiply blending mode for custom vignette and to tone down some high contrast distractions

Houston Zoo #1

The Bay Area Photo Club made a field trip to the Houston Zoo this past Saturday. I took a few acceptable animal photos but I think my favorite shot of the day may be this shot of a little girl in front of one of the zoo's water fountains.

Title: "Zoo Fountain Girl"


Camera / Lens: Canon 40D / Canon 100-400 L zoom
Post-processing: Photoshop CS3 > Duplicate Background Layer > Topaz Adjust plugin "Spicify" preset + custom Detail and Noise Reduction adjsutments in Luminosity blending mode > Merge Visible to New Layer > Distort Lens Correction Vignette