When I began this project, I admit that I was more driven by the subject matter than an underlying idea. My eventual goal is to become a wildlife photographer (or something to that effect), and I thought a series on wild animals (even at a zoo), would be a solid first step in that direction. I've researched the animals that I was especially interested in (mostly the mammals), and stayed for hours at those exhibits, just like a one would have to do if they were shooting animals in a natural habitat.
As I've continued going to the different zoos week after week, I'm starting to realize that this is nothing like wildlife photography. These animals have a completely different relationship with humans than wild animals do. Some avoid the glass walls, well aware that there are thousands of spectators, most of which look for a few seconds and then move on. Other animals are hams, and love the sounds of an awed crowd as they get closer to them.
I grew up in California with zoos like the San Diego Zoo (and so on), and I don't think I ever considered that zoos can be sad. I'm not even sure what the saddest part is; that we need to capture these animals in order to educate people, the way some behavior is changed in such a setting, or that people look for two seconds and move on (as though they really are a freak show).
I want to build a connection that is genuine and sympathetic. I want the viewer to look at these animals and empathize with them.
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