Ft. Worth Zoo info

[dlanter]

I am planning on going to the zoo this weekend and yesterday morning I was browsing the zoo's website. I ran across a mention of a photo safari so I gave them a call for more info about it.

Starting Sat. Oct 25 they will be allowing a limited number of photogs in an hour before the zoo opens for feeding time photos. Each week will feature a different animal, the first will be the white tiger, and you go with a keeper for a closer than normal veiw during the animal feeding. The fee for the photo safari is $20 which includes the normal entrance fee to the zoo.

I was told that the zoo website would have the complete schedule and a downloadable registration form online by this Fri. I will be out of town for the Oct 25 one, but I am definately going to try to go to one of the other ones.

In the meantime, I am still going to go this Sat morn, give me a shout if you happen to be out there. BTW, I'm not sure if the zoo has had this program before or not so this may be old news to some of you.

[RightAngle]

Cool info, thanks for the heads up.

[gbux61]

Thanks for the info. This should be real interesting. The Safari Park (can't remember the name) in Glenrose used to do an overnight behind the scenes expedition for photographers. ABout the time I had money to do it, they stopped offering it.

[Wes]

Sounds like fun. Might have to look into it. Just remember that the Zoo considers all pics taken of their animals to belong to them. You cannot resell them or use them in any commercial manner.

[texasguy3]

Dan,

Thanks for the info! I definitely want to check that out!!

[jerrykr]

The Photo Safari was announced at Hope Camera Club by a member who has attended every one of them. Basically the same info, except he added that the keepers know the animal's habits and will tell you what each animal generally does when released to the open area to feed,,,,, so you can be ready and know what to expect and where.

[dlanter]

Jerry, I assume that since your fellow club member keeps going back to the photo safari, he was happy with the program? Has he gotten some good shots?

I checked the zoo's website again today and they still don't have the safari schedule or registration form online, but I did not call them back about it. I'll check back again sometime next week.

[SPW]

FYI... There is now an on-line registration form for the photo sarfari...

It's under the "Education" tab (zoo home page) about a third of the way down.

Schedule/Animals

Saturday, October 25, 2008 — Malayan Tiger
Saturday, November 29, 2008 — Gharial
Saturday, December 20, 2008 — Great Horned Owl
Saturday, February 21, 2009 — Cougar
Saturday, March 28, 2009 — Giraffe
Saturday, April 25, 2009 — Penguin
Saturday, May 16, 2009 — Gorilla

Very easy to step through... Signed up for a couple including the one this comming weekend on the 25th.


Thank you for posting this topic Dan... Would've never known about it otherwise.

Steve

[dlanter]

Thanks for the update Steve. I hadn't had a chance to go back to see if they posted it yet. I will be out of town this weekend, but I am definately going to make at least a couple of these dates.

Maybe we could make one of these photo safaris a TPF get together. Anyone interested?

[SnapShotx]

Thanks very much Dan for this information. I've only dreamed of getting an opportunity like this for the white tiger. I've never gotten a shot I've been satisfied with in my last 5 visits. This will be a great opportunity to get some good shots. I just signed up.

Do you know how many spots are availalbe for these events?

[brad]

Its about time they did this.. I was talking to the PR director at the FWZ a few years ago about doing it... was trying to convince her they could make a lot of money for the zoo - especially if they also brought on an "official" zoo photographer to lead it... and if they ever hired for such a position....... LOL

[SPW]

Maybe we could make one of these photo safaris a TPF get together. Anyone interested?

I'm game...

[Sydor25]

I'll be there tomorrow for the Tiget shoot.

[Sydor25]

I was there this morning, it wasn't anything more than getting into the zoo an hour early. Nothing unique about the "Photo Safari".

Here are a few shots from this morning:

[Roy]

For not unique you sure got some great shots James. That second one really got my attention but excellent detail in all of them. Did you do much cropping on #2?