Hello everyone! I hope your Sunday is quiet and cozy.✨

Do you remember how going to the zoo as a kid felt like a real event, a miracle? It was often the first place we saw animals not just in pictures, but right there, so close. I always had a special awe for these huge, wise creatures. 🦒🐘🐅

🦁 A Special Zoo & My Photo Quest

I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of zoos because the restriction of freedom always leaves a bitter taste. But this zoo was different. It's built on a principle where animals are given huge, natural enclosures, as close to their natural habitats as possible. You walk around, wondering: "Will I see the snow leopard? Or the meerkat? Or are they hiding in the bushes?" 🤔

And this was my first serious "quest" with my macro lens! 🧐 Usually, I shoot tiny details, but here I decided to try my hand at portrait photography. It was challenging, with fences and dense foliage between us, but I really wanted to capture their character!
• The Snow Leopard: Catching him mid-yawn? Priceless! He looked less than thrilled about the photoshoot. 😉
• The Meerkats: Those little "sentinels" and their serious little faces. Absolute posing professionals.

• The Sea Lion: Looks like he was putting on his own private concert! A true star. 🌟

• The Ostrich: That look, full of a silent question: "What do you want from me, human?" 🤨

⚙️ My "Underwater" Photo Tools
For this "underwater" photo hunt (it felt like diving into their world!), I used:
• Camera: Sony A7c
• Lens: Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Makro G OSS
• Editing: Adobe Lightroom

💖Cherishing the Moments

For me, photography isn't just about a pretty shot. It's the ability to preserve a feeling. These photos bring me back not only to my childhood wonder but also to that August day when I stood with my camera, trying to "make friends" with the wild. 📸
I hope these portraits convey a bit of that warmth to you and perhaps remind you of your own childhood visits and your first successful (or not-so-successful!) photos!

Hugs! ✨