Dartmoor Zoo; Jaguar, Tigers and Bears - Photography

Dartmoor Zoo; Jaguar, Tigers and Bears

Event Description:

Dartmoor Zoological Park is a wonderful smaller, specialist collection in the heart of the beautiful Devon Countryside. What makes Dartmoor special however is not only its friendly and helpful staff but also a great collection of Carnivores housed in enclosures very well suited for photography. With extensive use of ‘moat & wall' systems and the help of a senior keeper for the day we hope to get some really lovely opportunities for portraits of Jaguar, Lion, Wolves, Amur Tiger, Brown Bear and Lynx.

Our workshop day is fully inclusive of admission, tuition, lunch and refreshments and we pride ourselves in giving everyone the individual support they need for their photography. You will be accompanied for the day by a qualified Wild Arena guide who will be happy to give guidance and advice on the best picture opportunities. A senior keeper from the park will also escort the group to give us some exclusive access and support with the animals. By timing our session to coincide with the animals feeding and by the keeper using his knowledge of the animals we hope to get some great pictures of the different species in good settings.

Many of the animals have natural woodland enclosures which give an authentic setting for the pictures.

All the usual Wild Arena Workshop benefits will be on offer including a complimentary ‘Visible Dust' sensor clean and access to loan equipment if required.

If you are planning a longer trip we may also be able to suggest Hotel bed & breakfast accommodation nearby - please contact us for details. The Living Coasts is quite near Dartmoor Zoo and the workshops for each usually run on consecutive days. Discounts are often available for combined bookings.

Fitness

This event is suitable for most levels of fitness as there is fairly limited walking involved over good pathways.

Photography Level

This event is suitable for most levels of photographic experience with subjects ranging in distance from fairly close by. An SLR camera with telephoto lens would be ideal but non SLR camera models with a good zoom would also be sufficient.

Disability Access

This venue is accessed by an inclined roadway from the main car park and the subjects are mostly photographed from pathways that would be suitable for wheelchair users. There are large indoor toilet facilities within the restaurant area. Disabled parking should be possible adjacent to the restaurant building but we advise you contact us in advance for special arrangements.

Group Size

The normal group size for this event is 10 delegates.

Requirements

What to Bring:

General:

• You will be outside for much of the session so you should be dressed to suit the season and weather.
• We suggest you have a water-proof coat in case of rain. Shelter is available inside but you should note that all subjects are outside and hence cannot be photographed from shelter.
• Waterproof over trousers are always useful on the day as this allows the photographer to comfortably take pictures from a lower level on potentially damp ground.
• Refreshments and lunch will be provided during the day but if you have specific dietary requirements it is suggested that you bring anything specific you require.

Photographic:

• You are very welcome to bring whatever photographic equipment you believe may be suitable. There is not too much walking involved so you should be able to carry around a normal day trip kit.
• Digital users should be as much memory as possible as we find people usually take more pictures than they anticipate.
• We suggest you ensure your batteries are fully charged and you bring spares if you have them.
• Download and battery charging facilities will be available during the breaks if required.
• For film users we recommend ISO 200 films in normal conditions, although ISO 400 may be useful in poor lighting.
• Fill in flash might be useful in some conditions e.g. where the subject is backlit.
• A SLR camera together with standard, wide angle and telephoto lens would be ideal. A lens covering a range up to 300mm will be ample for most situations and shorter focal length lenses will be suitable for close-ups.
• A tripod or monopod would be useful for use with long focal length lenses.
• We have access to a supply of spare memory, film, batteries and cleaning materials if required.