ZOOBILATION
By Duncan
It’s the largest black-tie event in Indianapolis, and Zoobilation raised a million dollars. The Five Thousand five hundred (5,500) tickets sold out in less than 90 minutes, which is a big deal.
It’s not a cheap event. I was trying hard not to use “not cheap,” which implies expensive. After all, five thousand plus lovers of the Zoo shell out a lot of money very quickly to attend Zooblation.
General Admission Tickets range from $275.00 for Zoo members to $300.00 for non-zoo members.
The Zoo decided to enhance the experience by providing an additional tier called the “Premium Experience.” Well, you bet your bottom dollar some people want the ultimate experience and are willing to pay for it. Non-Zoo members pay $600 for a Premium Experience Ticket, and Zoo Members cough up $575.00 a ticket.
The Indianapolis Zoo is not the only Zoo in the United States that uses the word “Zoobilation” in its marketing campaigns. The Audubon Society and the Zoo in Montgomery, Alabama, which market fundraisers, also use the “Zoobilation” logo to raise money.
The Indianapolis Zoo is the largest in the United States, receiving no direct annual tax-supported revenue. The Zoo relies on several sources of income and funds to support its renowned animal conservation mission, such as revenue from admissions, memberships, donations, grants, and fundraising events, like Zoobilation, ZooBoo at Holloween, and Christmas at the Zoo.
The Indianapolis Zoo cares for 1,400 animals and 48,000 plants. One point two million (1.2M) people visit the Zoo annually.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Okay, how did I find myself at the Zoo tonight? As some of you know, I used to photograph weddings. That was in my younger days, 1990-2000. I was active with a camera and bought a lot of very expensive camera equipment. I was involved in some of the most beautiful churches, synagogues, temples, and country club weddings anywhere. I listened as many couples said, “I will love you till the day I die.”
If you spend all day with the Bride and Groom, you get a pretty good picture (Pardon the pun) of how each will treat each other in the future. A wedding can be very stressful for all involved, and how they handle stress indicates whether this newlywed couple will make it for the long haul.
Now, I’m not a Psychologist and am not educated to study brain function and behavior issues by observing. But I played one while behind the camera at a stressful wedding.
I would also “travel” to other events in and around Indianapolis. Some events were social, some political, and some community-oriented. I would take a lot of photographs, write a few words about where I was, and post a few pictures on my blog.
For example, this stunning young woman walking by knew I was pointing my Nikon D 7000 with my long lens her way; she pulled the skirt back so I could photograph some skin. She came to Zoobilation to see and be seen. Let me say this: different women feel differently about a photographer taking pictures without permission. But for the most part, this black-tie event is a place where most expect to see photographers taking photographs.
These beautiful women passed by me several times, and then, as they passed by me for the third time, one of the women said, “Let’s give this guy a real photograph!” They posed. I didn’t like the light, so I asked them to turn and have the sun in their faces. Here is what I got.
Watching people is fun, and photographing them is even more fun. Why? When you have a big camera in your hand, people automatically assume you are a professional—you know, like I’m working for someone. However, I was outside the entrance gates of Zoobilation for a couple of hours, and not one person asked who I was or where the photographs would appear. When I asked, “May I have a picture.” They would turn and pose.
I pointed my camera at this striking couple and took several pictures. She yelled at me, saying, “He’s wearing yellow, so I know where he is tonight.” I yelled back, “Be careful. He’s a caution.” Thankfully, he laughed.
I took nearly five hundred photographs in my two hours there. I won’t bore you with the other four hundred and nighty. There is a mix of interesting dresses and men’s wear. But I do have my favorites. Some are interesting, and others make you wonder, “Really?”
You will notice the footwear in the photo above: cowboy boots, red high heels, tennis shoes, and sandals. Notice the woman in the gold gown, almost out of the frame on the far right, adjusting as she has her eyes on the woman in the red dress, walking with authority in a red dress and red high heels. I enlarged the photo and thought, was she judging? Yes, I smiled. It was an interesting evening, and I enjoyed the parade of beautiful women and sharp-dressed men.
A guy smiled at me at the end of the line, and I smiled back. It was time to call it a day and head to the parking lot.
