Red Panda


Zoos provide an opportunity to see wildlife from regions around the world.  However, it can be a challenge to get a good photograph in a zoo as one has to grapple with wire fences or dirty perspex.  In addition, the enclosures tend not to look natural.  

I find that the red panda in Dublin Zoo tends to be elusive hiding high in a tree snoozing away.  On this visit I was lucky.  Although the light was dull the panda seemed unusually active and I got a number of shots I was happy with.  Then the reason for the activity became clear - the keeper arrived with a feed of bamboo.  Which resulted in a happy panda.  This photo was one of my favourites, the panda busy munching on the bamboo, unfortunately no eye contact as it is occupied snacking.  The background was simple and I was able to clone out some branches and marking.  

The camera settings were my usual animal encounter settings, auto iso (which came in at 2500) and a shutter of 1/1000 sec.  Because I was only zoomed to 278 mm I had an open aperture of f5.  The photo was taken with the Canon R6 and the EF 100-400 mm lens.  

If you want to view other red panda photos from the tip click HERE

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