One Day Story - Take a Closer Look

Take a Closer Look

EDIT

Spectators gather at the Reticulated Python enclosure in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. Construction completed on the building in 1927 and zoo officials renamed it in 2002 in honor of the former director.

A Gaboon Viper rests on the floor of its enclosure in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. This African species has the longest fangs of any snake in the world; measuring up to two inches.

Megan Atnip of Breese, Ill. holds her son Layne, 2, against the glass of the King Cobra exhibit in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. "We have been couped up all winter, so it is nice to get out and do a little exploring."

Layne Atnip, 2, of Breese, Ill. looks through the glass at a venomous Western Cottonmouth enclosure in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. This was Layne's first time at the St. Louis Zoo.

Spectators watch a Reticulated Python consume a pig in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. This species can grow to over 30 feet in length; making it the longest species in the world.

SELECTS 

Carvings adorn the entrance of the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. According to the zoo's website, the building houses over 700 species of reptiles and amphibians.

Layne Atnip, 2, of Brees, Ill. leans over the railing of the atrium in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. The atrium contains tropical plants and a few animal exhibits including two different turtle species.

REFLECTION

The story about the reptile house at the St. Louis Zoo turned out to be more difficult to photograph than I had originally planned. I pitched the story about a beautiful building containing animals that most people wouldn’t find “beautiful.” I wanted to shoot some of the architecture and the animals inside. The final edit was supposed to be five to six images. I thought I had enough of the exterior architecture and enough of the interior and animals. After the first “WiP” session, it was decided that I didn’t.

After removing what architecture photos I did have, the class edited the story down to the interior and focused on the mother and son that allowed me to follow them. It was a extremely warm for a February day so the zoo was literally and figuratively a “zoo.” It was difficult to find a place to shoot the architecture because of the mass of people. It was also difficult to photograph the animals because most of them were in the backs of the enclosures and most of the glass was dirty enough that my camera wouldn’t auto-focus. I had to manually focus all of the cage shots and it was fun having people bump into while trying to focus a 180mm macro. After all of that, I think the story worked and I am happy with the edit that we managed to take out of what I had.

If I were to shoot this again, I think I would have better luck. If I could make it on a weekday I doubt it would be as busy and I would have more time to get the shots I want. I also made a few contacts at the zoo that would allow me to get better access to areas of the zoo that would allow me to shoot from the back, through the cages to the observers. I would also try get access to the roof so I could get a better shot of the roof tiles. I would also try to focus on pairing more images of the exterior architecture with elements from the inside of the building.

SECOND EDIT

I am going to attach a second edit that I think would still work including the architecture shots. I am going to start with the building entrance, then the pillar, and then the photo of the roof. The roof will be paired with the viper photo to create a transition from outside to the inside. Then the next photo will introduce the boy and he will take us to another part of the interior of the zoo. I think this will work and I am not sure why these photos were taken out in the beginning. After talking with some people after class, they said that they thought I had the edit that would work for what I pitched. I am just adding this in as a second edit for my own personal use.

Carvings adorn the entrance of the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. According to the zoo's website, the building houses over 700 species of reptiles and amphibians.

A support column shows the effects of years of weather and crowds at the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. The building went though renovations in the late 1970s and some exhibits are updated each year.

The curved ceramic tile roof reflects light from the unseasonably warm sun at the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. The building also serves as the home for the Ron Goellner Center for Hellbender conservation. The Hellbender is a giant salamander species that is native to Missouri.

A Gaboon Viper rests on the floor of its enclosure in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. This African species has the longest fangs of any snake in the world; measuring up to two inches.

Layne Atnip, 2, of Breese, Ill. looks through the glass at a venomous Western Cottonmouth enclosure in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. The cottonmouth is one of five native venomous snake species in Missouri.

Spectators gather at the Reticulated Python enclosure in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. Construction completed on the building in 1927 and zoo officials renamed it in 2002 in honor of the former director.

Spectators watch a Reticulated Python consume a pig in the Charles H. Hoessle Herpetarium at the St. Louis Zoo on Saturday February 20, 2016. "We feed it once a month," said Levon Aghasyan, one of the research scientist at the zoo, "For many people it's interesting to see and many people gather."