Snapshot Society

SNAPSHOT SOCIETY | Zoo Photography Notes from the Field

By John Reed, Photography Volunteer & Snapshot Society Teacher

While we all enjoy seeing and photographing the various animals at our Zoo, let us remember this is the Zoo and Gardens—fauna and flora! The horticulture team does a terrific job of ensuring the flora is healthy, vibrant, and beautiful all year, so there is always something great to photograph.

If you are able to arrive early on your next visit, you may catch dew or sprinkler water drops on many of the plants. This makes for some really great shots. Get as close as you can or zoom in to make the water drops the clear subject of the photo. Each is like a tiny gem and for those of you with a macro lens, you can get really close and observe that the drops act like tiny magnifying glasses!

No water drops? No problem. There are many other great opportunities to photograph plants. One thing you can do to make flowers “pop” is to shoot into the light. This type of light is called “backlight” and it makes anything translucent look almost electric.

Take a look at these two photos. One is sort of “flat” with a bright background because the light (sun) was behind me. This is called “front light” because the light is hitting the front of the subject. All I had to do was walk around the flower so the light hit the back of the flower. Look at the difference. The nice, dark background and flower glows.

Sometimes you cannot get around to the other side of the flower because you would have to leave the walkway, but there will be other opportunities with so many gardens to explore. Here is another option if your visit is long enough: come back to the same flower later after the sun has moved in the sky and you might have a different angle. Watch for flowers on your way in and on your way out. You will notice the light is different.

Finally, if you are looking for another type of photograph, go for wider shots that show whole patches of flowers. Different colors in the scene can make for a wonderful color palette. What appeals to most people are complementary colors such as yellow and blue, or red and green.

Remember, do not be shy if you ever see me at the Zoo. Please feel free to say hello and ask any photography questions you may have.

VOLUNTEERS Next Step: Volunteer!

By Derek Mock, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Over the years, many Members have taken the leap to get even more involved with Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens by becoming volunteers. Volunteering here is both rewarding and educational. Our volunteers strive to provide excellent care for both animals and guests alike! Volunteering spans across the entire Zoo in almost every department including Education, Facilities, Special Events, Animal Care, and more.

Our Members have a vast knowledge of our animals and the history of our Zoo. We would love for you to join our volunteer family so that you can share your knowledge and experiences with all our guests! You are already helping us achieve our mission with your membership contribution. Volunteering takes your role a step further by helping us spread our message of conservation and environmental stewardship.

Adult and Special Event Teen Programs

Our Teen Programs start at age 14 and our Adult Programs begin at age 18. Check our website today for our Adult and Special Event Teen volunteer applications and details on those opportunities.

ZooTeens!

Our ZooTeen! program will kick off again in the spring. ZooTeens! is a specialized program for teens ages 14–17 that fosters leadership, growth, skill development, and teamwork. ZooTeen! applications will be posted in February.

Groups

We are also always looking for group volunteers. We provide service hours for school groups, corporate groups, religious groups, and more. If you have a group of any kind that would like to volunteer, we would love to hear from you.

Unpaid Internships

Like our volunteer opportunities, we have internships in many departments throughout the Zoo. Most people see the Zoo as a place just for those hoping to pursue a career in animal care, however our Zoo is full of opportunities in a variety of career paths such as marketing, exhibit design, education, and of course animal care.

Applications for Spring 2021 Unpaid internships are available at jacksonvillezoo.org/internships. Applications will close on January 1, 2021.