Another Lion Portrait-Ngorongoro

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7793334512_c45474f9c5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/7793334512/)
EastAfrica0641 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40906945@N08/7793334512/) by docsanjeev (http://www.flickr.com/people/40906945@N08/), on Flickr
7D and 100-400 L
1/640
f/5.6
ISO 320

[Tom Graham]

No replies after about two days?
I'll jump in, looks good, only think I'd like to see is more color saturation.
Tom

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Thanks Tom, Agree with you regards the paler color. But what I observed was that the lions in Ngorongoro were more 'Tawny' colored than the Serengeti ones! Not sure if the altitude has anything to do with it. I tried to lift the shadows in the image, maybe that made it a bit more light and could see some noise in the dark shadow in the background.

[Tom Graham]

Ok, then you likely have it spot on.
Tom

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Sanjeev, I like the expression, crop and having a darker backdrop.

I would suggest you keep the darker BKG to help reduce any noise, but suprised you have the effect in the OP based on such a low ISO. However I would suggest:

- Reduce the blue in the gums
- Channel adjustment layer with a blend/opacity adjustment
- Levels adjustment
- Some selective sharpening

I think it moves things along, although I'm doing this remotely so you may need to adjust further, but I hope it helps.

TFS
Steve

[Tom Graham]

I do like Steve's repost better than OP.
Tom

[Morkel Erasmus]

nice details in this portrait Sanjeev! Steve's repost is an improvement IMHO.
I like how it pops from the darker background too...
:5