Why is it that zoochatters always have to flash (this is not a personal comment to you JR), but it annoys me that people who should know better still use flash in zoos, even where it is not aloud like in aquaria and night houses.....
Why is it that zoochatters always have to flash (this is not a personal comment to you JR), but it annoys me that people who should know better still use flash in zoos, even where it is not aloud like in aquaria and night houses.....
I do understand your frustration [and not taken personally, I know this can be a controversial subject] but I disagree that minimal use of flash negatively impacts most species [there are of course exceptions to this]. Many species will encounter flash in the wild from lightning, and I wouldn't have thought they were negatively affected. It would be interesting to see if anybody has ever truly studied the full impact of flash photography on species in nocturnal houses, comparing the impacts of different amounts of flash.
In respect to this particular instance, I would like to point out that this was just in a 'small mammal house' with no reverse lighting, and I didn't notice any signs to say no flash. I have a picture of this animal where flash wasn't used, but I tried flash as well to try and bring out the orange a bit more.
I'm also against using a flash on animals.
Sure, an occasional flash every few weeks which isn't directed straight at an animal's face isn't so bad, but dozens of times every day. Maybe even hundreds of times on a busy day...
I personally would completely ban all flashes everywhere in zoos but in nocturnal houses especially.
I do not know of research proving flash is indeed bad (I also have not looked for that), but to compare it with lightning is not really valid, as a light flash is much much stronger than lightning and lightning does not happen several times per day...
Another reason for my concern is that I think that zoochatters should give a good example when in zoos, which they usually do. But many still use flash even when signs indicate it is not aloud...
I, of course, agree completely with Laughing Dove and lintworm. Different animals (species and orders) react differently to flash - some it doesn't seem to affect at all, others it affects very badly - but comparing it to lightning is a ridiculous justification, although it is often used by flash proponents. Kiwi are my main area of expertise and, generally speaking, one person with a flash with ensure that that kiwi will not be seen again for the rest of that day. I rarely even use flash on wild animals at night, even though that individual animal will likely never see another camera flash again in its life. Another thing is that flash photos usually look awful and unnatural! What use are they?
lintworm said:
Another reason for my concern is that I think that zoochatters should give a good example when in zoos, which they usually do. But many still use flash even when signs indicate it is not aloud...
this is a major point which people on here should take note of, especially when they (not everybody, just speaking in general terms) constantly bitch about the bad behaviour of other visitors. I have read on this forum someone saying that they know they shouldn't use flash in a nocturnal house but they "need" to get photos of the animals. Other people have said they look to see if there are signs saying not to use flash - apparently it is fine if the zoo doesn't specifically state otherwise, which is the laziest justification ever. There have even been people stating they deliberately ignored the signs for the sake of getting the photo. (Those are all from memory, so don't ask me to find the threads they came from!)
Hix and Gentle Lemur (to name just two members) can get excellent photos in nocturnal houses without using flash. Other people should simply learn to use their cameras properly.
