A Day at Zurich Zoo with My Fujifilm XH2S and the Trusty Viltrox 13mm
When you walk through the gates of the Zurich Zoo it feels a bit like stepping into a different world. You’ve got the chatter of school groups, the smell of popcorn mixed with something that is definitely not popcorn (yes I’m looking at you elephants), and the anticipation of meeting animals that usually live thousands of kilometers away. I decided to bring my Fujifilm XH2S and the Viltrox 13mm lens because I figured wide angle shots would be perfect for the enclosures and also for the zoo atmosphere itself. Plus, let’s be honest, a new lens always gives that little extra motivation to crawl around in weird angles and try to capture something special.
My mission of the day was very clear: I wanted to photograph a chameleon. Not just any reptile but the slow moving, color shifting, slightly alien looking master of camouflage. Of course I also planned to shoot lions, monkeys, and all the other classic crowd favorites, but the chameleon had top billing in my personal agenda.
I started the day in the Masoala Rainforest hall, which is easily the crown jewel of Zurich Zoo. It’s warm, humid and the air smells like leaves and damp soil. Basically you feel like you’re on a tiny expedition to Madagascar. Perfect for testing out the Fujifilm’s dynamic range because light in there is tricky. Bright shafts of sunlight cut through the leaves while just a few steps away it’s dark and shadowy. With the Viltrox 13mm I could capture a wide section of the hall without backing into other visitors, which saved me from several awkward apologies.
After about fifteen minutes of sweating like I was running a marathon I finally found my star: the chameleon. Sitting on a branch, completely unbothered by the people staring at it. The way it slowly turned its head and blinked one eye at a time was mesmerizing. I got close enough to fill the frame and even though the 13mm is not exactly a macro lens, the detail on its scaly skin was amazing. The greens, yellows and a hint of turquoise really popped. Every photo felt like a tiny piece of reptile art.
One problem though: chameleons do not move fast. At all. So after about 20 shots that looked almost the same, I had to laugh at myself. I kept whispering, “Come on buddy, do something dramatic.” But he just blinked at me again as if to say, “nah, I’m good.” That’s the charm though. Sometimes the best animal photography isn’t about dramatic action but about appreciating the strange quiet beauty of a creature just existing.
After filling my memory card with enough chameleon portraits to make a calendar, I moved on. The elephants were next. Now here the 13mm lens truly shined. Standing close to the railing and aiming upwards I got a huge composition that included one elephant in the foreground and another in the background throwing dust onto its back. The wide perspective gave the image a sense of space, almost like you could step right into it. Also, the XH2S handled the movement perfectly — the dust particles frozen mid air looked epic.
The penguins were less cooperative. Cute as always, but they zoomed around underwater like caffeinated torpedoes. I must have twenty blurry photos of nothing but splashes. Eventually I figured out the trick: pre-focus on a spot in the water where they usually swim past, and then just wait. When it worked, it really worked. The penguin came flying through the frame like a black and white rocket. That shot alone made me smile like a
Camera: Fujifilm X-H2s
Lens: Fujinon several lenses
Filter: none
Location: Switzerland
I'm a freelance Filmmaker in Zurich, looking forward to meeting you here on HIVE and explore visual Art.
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