Zoomarine Portugal

The background clouds are painted on, not photoshopped as I was asked once.

Nice images OldGeezer, background works well

Haaaaa...I don't usually like gimmicks but these are sooo outre!

I didn't want to go because of pre conceptions about performing animals but the Grandkids wanted it and when I saw how they were kept, the animals not the g/kids, they just seemed ok.

cool ...............

Has visiting here changed the way you feel about performing animals Pete?? Sadly they are not always looked after in captivity, living in filth and mistreated physically, its no wonder in some countries animals attack their trainers, its not all just the animals instincts that causes them to turn on mankind.

No, I still hate the thought of it. Why people love this stuff is beyond me, I only train my dogs to come to me for their own safety as much as anything but some animals perform naturally, which means they just do what comes naturally to them, we call it performing, which is arrogant of us don't yer think.

One thing I did realise on leaving there, looking through the eyepiece waiting to get sharp action shots, all that stuff went out of my head, what does that say about me ??????????????

Cools shots..... I like the way the dolphin has trained the human to climb a ladder.

It means your only human Pete. As a photographer you strive for that perfect image, and there is nothing wrong in that when photographing performing animals, BUT sometimes the training and performance is a little OTT and trainers step over the line in regards what they would like the animal to do. The animals should only do what they do naturally in the wild, just being able to see in the flesh any animal whether in a zoo or safari park is enough for me.