This year’s field trip coordinators, Bob Friedman and Mike Whalen, will be hosting the first club field trip to the National Zoo in Washington DC on Saturday, September 6. Meeting time will be at 8:00 AM at the zoo visitor’s center which is near the Connecticut Avenue entrance (click for map). Bob and Mike will be joined by noted zoo photographer and lecturer, Don Johnson who will guide us. Don was the program speaker at NVPS on October 1, 2013 ( https://nvps.org/home/?p=4331 .)

The zoo is an excellent place to photograph wild animals from around the world. The zoo map shows where each group is located. The grounds opens at 6:00 AM and some of the animals are out and about so feel free to come early and walk around before the crowds arrive and before the field trip begins.

Entrance to the zoo is free, but parking in the zoo lots cost a flat fee of $22. You can park in lots A and B after 6:00 AM. Other zoo lots don’t open till 8:00 AM. There are also several other nearby parking lots. There’s also the DC metro which gets you pretty close. Use the Red Line and get off at either Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan stop or the Cleveland Park stop with a short walk to the zoo entrance.

As far as equipment, a telephoto lens of 200mm or higher might be useful to get animal close-ups. Tripods and monopods are also allowed at the zoo. Of the two, Don recommends a monopod.

In case of rain, the field trip will be postponed till the next day, Sunday, Sept. 7 also at 8:00 AM.

Please email Bob and Mike at field-trips@nvps.org if you are interested in attending this field trip or have any questions. Important: Please provide your name and cell phone number (before Sept. 6) where we can contact you in case of changes or postponement due to weather. We look forward to seeing you at the Zoo!