Old, Wild Eyes

Another oldie from 2014.

We were observing a lioness with her two cubs playing in the cool evening breeze not far from our campsite, at Polentswa Waterhole. The wind was blowing and a few rain drops splashed in our faces every so often.
Mom and kids were about 60m away, playing in the dry riverbed. Suddenly they were gone, disappearing into the grass and shrubs.

We looked around, wondering who disturbed this tranquil scene- an old male was approaching from the North. He walked past the waterhole, stopping briefly to look at us. Then scanned the area where the female and family was, called and called- but the young family was gone. We suspected he was not the father of the cubs and therefore she fled, fearing for their safety.

As he was lying down on a wind swept mound the storm was approaching and darkness was setting in, I had this feeling he was utterly alone..
He was very old, with the vertebrae showing through his sagging skin, judging from his belly index he had not eaten in a while, hungry.
I could not help to apply human logic to the situation- he needed her to help him hunt so he can eat...

We watched him until it became dark, slowly returning to our campsite in silence, just the sound of the windscreen wipers.

We did see the lioness with the two inquisitive cubs at sunrise the following morning in the rain ( http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...est?highlight= ) but the old man- never again...

Nikon D3S with 600f4
1/400 @ f5,6
ISO 8000

A 7x5 crop, wanted to include his back, can not crop much tighter. (IQ lost due to ISO)

Hi Andre -- Loved the look he is giving you . I find the IQ site good and details and sharpness looks very good . Very nicely processed as well . Works for me as presented .
TFS !

Andrea the hair and fur on the face of this magnificent beast look superb with great detail and sharpness,bet all those little scars and wrinkles could tell a story.

Keith.

Hi Andre, what appears to be, ditching 'the kitchen sink' within PP stage and keeping things simple is really paying off and certainly nothing wrong with these files, all looking really good. Excellent for ISO8000.

I wonder if a crop slightly to the left of the leg, loosing some of the main body and adding BKG (if needed) to the right may also be an option.

TFS
Steve

Hi Andre - He certainly looks like he has been through some wars but he weathered them well. Nice eye contact, tones and detail. I am ok with the comp as is but Steve's suggestion is also a viable alternative.

TFS,
Rachel

Love this image Andre and especially the BG story, with good eye contact and overall lighting and techs.

I've seen many old males that look like this and reminds me of a pair of bros named Grumpy & Bro, who ruled their pride in Ruaha NP for close to 6 years, an unusually long reign.
When I first saw them, some 6 years ago, they both looked on deaths door, but were a heck of a tough pair who ruled with much tenacity, like some skinny street brawler, just amazing!
They were only recently deposed a year ago.

TFS

What a character! Great portrait here Andre.
Looks like it could use a tad more warmth, but not viewing on the best screen at the moment...

Hi Andre, good eye contact, and this fellow looks like he's been in a few battles. I like the detail on his face, and a great result for such a high ISO.

Thank you Haseeb, Keith and Steve! Steve, can use your crop idea, but I wanted to include the bony back for the story..
Thank you Rachel, Marc, Morkel and Stu!:wave: