Where lions were once hunted...

[Steve Kaluski]

Not a great image to kick off the New Year with, but hey...

This is one of the two female lioness that were left after the two males had been killed by hunters and subsequently prompted Dereck & Beverly Joubert to created their film. When I was there the two females had two sets of cubs (2 slightly older, three about 6 months old) and spent a week in Selinda, photographing the pride and other animals. Selinda has always been our favourite reserve, but they were shadow.

Thanks to those who posted or viewed on the last posting.

Steve

Subject: Lioness (Panthera leo)
Location: Selinda, Botswana
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens: EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXT HH
Exposure: 1/640s at f/8 ISO2500 EV +0.33
Original format: Landscape, small crop almost
Processed via: LRC 12.0.1 & PS '23 24.0.1

[Jonathan Ashton]

Not sure what your unhappy with Steve - looks pretty good on my screen! Wonderful colour rendition and amazing details.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Steve .. a simple Lion portrait , effectively presented .
Superbly processed , love the tonal gradations in the subject ... might change the " whites" to a bit warmer tone , just feels a bit too neutral . Comp as good as it can be
She looks relaxed ... but kind of " grumpy " :bg3:

Nice one and TFS Andreas

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

hi Steve, super details and tones in the portrait. The bright BG and the twigs in front of the face are a bit distracting but otherwise a lovely portrait. Nice techs with good DOF.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Steve,

Your lioness looks a bit like my favourite 'girl' here in the Munyawana Conservancy:w3 She has that focused and 'no - nonsense' expression about her. Frame well exposed with good detail, nice (rich) colours and tonality. I presume you were not too fond of the bright background but I quite like the way the lioness stands out against the golden grass.
Well composed, great choice of DoF and well processed as expected, detail is superb. Andreas is right, she looks a tad grumpy - I too love the pose! Love everything about this image, thank you so much for sharing :cheers:

Warmest regards,