Everyone should have a bucket list and actively plan to experience things on that list. If you're me, you have multiple bucket lists covering a variety of activities. This year, I managed to cross off 2 items on the "Interact with Cool Animals" list within the course of 2 months:
Yes, I used the word "ungulates" - partly because it's a funny sounding word and partly because it sounds way more intelligent and downright cool compared with "rhinos & giraffes."
Originally, my birthday was supposed to entail trekking through Santa Barbara wine country with a new wide angle lens birthday present in tow. That plan was pretty much obliterated once I was rear-ended the week before my birthday and prescribed muscle relaxants for the ensuing back pain... aka drinking centric activities were going to be a no go.
No matter, I decided I wasn't going to let that ruin my day and decided I wanted to do something so memorable, I would look back years from now and remember the fantastic birthday I had and not have a rear-end collision define this 2014's marking of another revolution around the sun.
That something memorable turned out to be feeding giraffes and rhinoceroses at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park as part of their caravan safari, which basically was a 2 hour drive through the exhibit!! The guide provided all kinds of facts and explained animal behaviors as they were happening right before our eyes. I think it could have been better only if Sir David Attenborough himself had been there narrating in his dignified British accent. Something I took away from the experience is that rhinos are actually rather docile and love apples!!
Not the best time of day for photography and most of these pictures ended up being more snapshot-y than artistic image, but it was still an amazing experience. And I'm proud of the fact that I have seemingly fixed my under-exposure problem by checking the histogram outputs and not just relying on the internal light meter.
All in all, I can't wait to head back during more favorable lighting to photograph more interesting animals, having a membership is the best!
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| Rhino smelling & listening to our caravan... apparently, their eyesight isn't great. |
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| Fun fact - rhinos actually wear down & shape their horns to their liking and said horns are made of keratin |
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| Fed a rhino!! Contrary to popular belief, they're actually so docile and sweet... the cows of the savannah!! |
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| Giraffe interested in the acacia leaves we've got |
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| Making the giraffe reach for it! I love her expression and that purple tongue in this!! |
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| Crossing another one off the "Interact with Cool Animals" bucket list! |
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| Alright, didn't get to play with the tigers, but the new Tiger Trail exhibit was really cool!! Actually took this photo through glass & managed to minimize the reflection & glare. |
More Safari to See!
Active Shooting Hours: 3
Review Hours: 1
Hours to Date: 159
