Tenderness (Macaca sylvanus)

Macaca sylvanus (Barbary macaque)

Apes and monkeys are always a big attraction in any zoo. This is mainly because they look like humans and they behave like us - or at least this is how we perceive their actions. The male at the top photo was not a friendly animal. While I was close to its cage it made everything possible to make sure that I would keep a distance. I wondered why he was so hostile when I noticed a female carrying a newborn in the back. Since the male wouldn't allow me to get closer, I decided to take a longer shot with the use of flash which would show the wires of the cage and - hopefully - frame the female with her baby. The second photo shows the results ... this is as good as it gets. Some minutes later, the happy family was resting in the shadow allowing for a closer shot (bottom photo)

Photos by George J. Reclos

Shooting Data:

(Top photo) :
Camera: Nikon D70
Lens: Nikkor AF-S VR 80-400mm 1:4.5-5.6 D @ 400mm
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/500 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and resized.

(Middle photo) :
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/180 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and resized.

(Bottom photo) :
Camera: Nikon D2X
Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO100
Shutter speed: 1/100 sec, f/8, Aperture priority mode
Flash: SB-800 in i-TTL mode
Image: JPEG edited in Photoshop CS, levels adjusted, USM added and resized.