Franklin Zoo Workshops Get Photographers Up Close And Personal With Wildlife

Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary and award-winning local photographer and artist Jan Maree Vodanovich are holding photographic workshops at the zoo to give photographers the
opportunity to get up close and personal with the wildlife.

Workshops are scheduled for 15 and 18 November, and 2 and 16 December and Jan Maree
says getting into the enclosures with the animals is both an awesome and humbling
experience.

“They welcome visitors and their inquisitive, curious and humorous behaviour is such a great feeling.”

She says having the lemurs peering back through the lens with their crazy antics makes it
easy to get some fun and interesting shots.

“The turtles clamber over each other filling the frame with turtle bodies and water ripples.

Lioness Jade gives intimidating growls as she eats her food so you get in, get the photo and get out. Zebra stripes make interesting patterns across the canvas. Deer eyes are beautiful and liquid and loving. There are so many photographs waiting to happen.”

Jan Maree graduated from Auckland University (Elam) with a Bachelor of Fine Art majoring
in Photography. She has since travelled extensively, free-lanced and started her own
business working mostly in commissioned photography, graphite drawings, pastels and
ceramics.

“Photography is my first passion and I use it as a sketching tool for drawings and pastels,
as well as photographing for the joy of it.”

Up Close and Personal is a full day workshop including lunch, morning and afternoon animal
encounters, and four photographic sessions with the residents of Franklin Zoo – including
the lions, lemurs, turtles, zebra, deer, otter, kea, pheasants, emus and exotic birds.

Participants will be coached on how to get great photographs to make sure they get the
most out of their experience.

Jan Maree describes Franklin Zoo is a sanctuary for the wildlife that resides there.

“There is a peace and tranquillity that you feel as soon as you get out of your car. Our
workshop experience is one of ‘being’ with the animals and enjoying their personalities, in
the company of people of like mind and interests. It’s extremely rewarding in the images and memories that you get to take home with you. Whether you want photographs for your
albums, source material for other types of art, fine art for your wall, or just the experience of being with some wonderful animals and finding out about their stories, our workshops are a wonderful experience.”

ENDS

For more information:
Contact Jan Maree Vodanovich 09 236 8553

To see some of her photographs of the animals or get more information about the workshops

go to www.janmareeart.co.nz