Nale lion - Duba Plains

This is the same male lion that I posted earlier. We found them again after 2 days of resting. The sun was about to set and just dipped below a layer of cloud, sending glorious red rays. The color version of this image was so red that i think people will have a hard time believing it. The comment I would expect to hear is "is it Photoshop color?"

I'm not sure how to process the color version, so this would be a good opportunity to do a B&W and toned image. I have not done anything with B&W, so for this first posting, I just used one of the presets in LR5 and then adjust final exposure in PS6.

Appreciate your comments.

Thank you.

Loi

and here is a color version.

Loi

Wow Loi! Love your OP and the colour version takes my breath away-I can just imagine the sunset!
I love both versions, well done with processing!

Warmest regards,

Hi Loi - You forgot the EXIF data, please add it. I am curious which lens you used and whether you used a tc because again I feel you needed to be a little wider to include the whole mane, particularly above and to the left. I think it would be a good practice to train yourself to shoot a little wider in the field. It's much easier to crop a bit off than to add something that was clipped.


You've got good detail in the lion and dof. I do think the b&w is a little flat and that you need more tonal range for it to work. I'm also not loving the overall toning, feels just a bit too grey.


On the color version, beautiful red light but I would still take it down a fraction but more importantly I would reduce the magentas and reds in the whites in particular. I'm sure others will chime in with other suggestions on how to deal with it.

TFS,
Rachel

Agree with Rachel's comments and would add that a lower POV would take this up a notch as well, would also consider a warmer tone to your B&W as well Loi.
Whilst I understand the colour version was taken at sunset, however the reds are too strong here IMO and would back off a little on that whilst still keeping that red glow tone.

Both grab my attention and I think the b & w shot gives a bit more detail. Would be interesting to see the eye retain its original color in that shot.

Hi Rachel, sorry about the EXIF data.

1DX
500f4 II
1/250
f5.6
ISO-3200

I should have shot this vertical to include all the mane. You are right about me tending to shoot too tight. Coming from bird, it is easy to forget that i can shoot wider. On this trip, I made a point of trying to shoot wider and will post some shots, but this one is tight!

Marc, good suggestion. I applied a warming filter here in the RP and added a little more constrast.

Thanks again.

Loi

Hi Loi - RP works much better for me.

Rachel

Loi, I actually prefer the colour version here (with a few tweaks needed as discussed). Your RP monochrome is definitely better - I would explore the contrast between warm and cool more in the conversion, ie have the BG darker and the lion lighter in midtone.