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**Photo -1. Caption: The cover photo.
Part -1
#LocalGuidesLove - Planning & executing Photo-Shoots of Zoo for Google Maps - Part -1- TravellerG
Hello, my dear friends,
This post is also dedicated to the #LocalGuidesLove challenge initiated by our @AdrianLunsong
I believe that my previous post regarding planning a photoshoot was well received by many friends. And I had a couple of friends asking me how I plan a ZOO Photoshoot - let me try, please…
I’m taking the Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens) as the destination (my Google Maps Review - Here), which happened in December 2018. I’m publishing the details in 2 parts to keep each post compact.
After I bought my Sony 7R camera and 500 mm Sigma lens, I decided to intensify my exploration of Google Maps; thus I selected Mysore Zoo for a detailed Photoshoot - a PhotoWalk for Google Maps. However, as mentioned by our friend @ErmesT , I too used the mobile camera for Google Maps’ photos & professional cameras for my collection shots.
Reached Mysore by noon on the previous day of the shoot and settled in the hotel (Here). After lunch, along with my assistant & driver, I visited the Zoo & met a senior officer (to be on the safer side - since I was carrying big cameras & long lenses + monopod & tripod, etc.- Photo #2). I discussed my plan of 2 full day Photoshoots (as we need to walk 4 km within the zoo), which he accepted after a brief discussion. Fortunately, he introduced us to a zoo caretaker, who helped us a lot during both the days’ shoot.
Even before starting, I used the Zoo Layout (Photo #3) to understand the overall topography. I also learnt from Google that besides the abundant flora and fauna (spread in 157 acres), there were almost 1450 species of animals and close to 170 species of birds from 25 different countries.
Photo - 3. Caption: The Mysore Zoo Layout.
On the same day, we both took an electric vehicle ride to feel the zoo in general, which we might have covered in less than an hour. We both captured mobile camera videos (of both sides during the ride). When we sat down for the final planning at night, we used these videos to create the list of the birds and animals.
The next day (1st shoot session) we reached the ticket counter even before it was open. We started the shooting at 8:30 am before the crowd came in. Usually, the animals & birds will be active up to around 11 am and later they go for resting - then again after 3 pm only we can take good shots. We planned accordingly and tried our best, with the help of the caretaker.
The first day, we managed to cover half of the zoo up to 6 pm (our lunch was only ice cream as the cafeteria was situated towards the end of the walking track).
Similarly, on the second day, we started early in the morning. Instead of walking all the distance (around 2 km), we covered the previous day, we took the help of the electric vehicle to get dropped to the place where we stopped the previous day - remember we were carrying heavy cameras (3kg along with lens and monopod - Photo #2).
Photo - 4. Caption: An alluring pose of the Leopard. (my post about this animal: Here)
Photo - 5. Caption: A sitting posture of the Lion-tailed monkey. (my post about this animal: Here)
Photo - 6. Caption: A close up of the Hippo’s face. (my post about this animal: Here)
Photo - 7. Caption: A beautiful posture of the Albino Blackbuck. (my post about this animal: Here)
Photo - 8. Caption: A pelican in the take-off pose.
Photo - 9. Caption: A walking photo of the Rainbow pheasant.(my post about this Bird: Here)
Photo - 10. Caption: Closeup of a Hornbill.
Photo - 11. Caption: Cover photo (Rhino) without texts.
The description of the actual Photoshoot, the Tips & the Notes, I shall share in the next post to keep this post compact.
Thanks for your support.
@AjitThite @davidhyno @plavarda @IamJoseFelixAranda @jakiripsc @indahnuria @Velvel @anandbc1983
for lunch lunch 
, r we allowed to take food for self
But it shows in the photos that you’ve taken… the beautiful blur effect in the background whilst the foreground is just so sharp and clear! Lovely!!