One of my favourite lion images from our recent Kgalagadi trip. This regal and beautiful male was lying flat on a sand dune at last light. For a few brief moments he lifted his head, and I got my shot. It was overcast at sunset which made for some nice - yet challenging - light and pastel colours.
Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f4.0 | 1/200 SS | ISO-3600
Cropped to pano from top and bottom
12-01-2011, 02:13 PM
Vivaldo Damilano
Hey Morkel. a wonderful shot with lots of space..... excellent comp. I would prefered this image a little on the warmer side but not a biggy :S3: Great comp and love the sand dunes.
12-01-2011, 02:47 PM
Gregor Bergquist
I really like this. Beautiful lion and light (could possible be enhanced slightly), but most I like the sand and sky. It is a such beautiful background. I like the composition. Excellent.
12-01-2011, 03:17 PM
Morkel Erasmus
Thanks guys.
Vivaldo - the scene wasn't "warm" at all. I already warmed it up some but didn't want to lose the feeling of those stormy skies. There was no sunlight to speak of. :w3
Gregor - the colours of the original capture were VERY muted. I punched them up considerably here but didn't want to overdo it compared to how I remember the scene...:t3
12-01-2011, 03:36 PM
Vivaldo Damilano
Morkel I understand but still would have gone slightly warmer but it personal taste, love the image as posted:w3
12-01-2011, 05:00 PM
Tom Graham
Like it a lot, the perspective, eye level, head placement within sand (not in sky BG), pano crop. At first I thought could be warmer but more I look at it the more I like it as is.
Tom
12-01-2011, 09:31 PM
Steve Canuel
Nice low angle and interesting surroundings for a lion. Cool colors look natural.
12-01-2011, 11:05 PM
Marc Mol
The soft colours look good to me Morkel, the pose and low perspective also suit here.
TFS
12-01-2011, 11:15 PM
Dumay de Boulle
Beautiful image mate, I love the crop and pose from the male. The colors look artificial( Mild magenta, or pinkish) but I feel it works vey well...Absolute stunner mate...One of your best! Im dying to go there to go do some photography!
12-02-2011, 06:43 AM
Ken Watkins
Morkel,
An interesting image, I have no doubt that the light was like it is shown, but it does look "odd"
12-02-2011, 07:31 AM
Steve Kaluski
1 Attachment(s)
Hi Morkel, really like the setting on this one, as the habit makes a nice change for this regal beast. As you say, the overcast light and pastel colours gives a lovely soft, look & feel to the image and bolsters some of Peter Delaney's images in the past. The pano crop works well, echoing the pose of the lion and that almost 'arrogant' look he has, looking away, if he looked direct to camera I think the image would not have the same feel to it.
I took the liberty of adjusting everything below the skyline in Col Balance, added a fraction in Levels & Brightness, however this probably does not reflect that pink hue you get towards sundown I guess which again, Peter D has comment on regarding the Kgalagadi location. Also, again personal choice, but lost the slightly darker strand in the middle of the vegetation, no deal breaker, just thought it looked a little cleaner (?):w3
Not sure if this now looses the lovely colour quality of the original.
cheers
Steve
12-03-2011, 11:08 AM
Rachel Hollander
Morkel - very majestic which feeling is augmented by the lower pov and the pose. The pastel colors does give this a different feel, almost a softness despite the obvious power of the lion. I like Steve's repost too. It's nice to have choices.
TFS,
Rachel
12-03-2011, 08:28 PM
Kiran Khanzode
Imho, this is one of your best Lion shots. I love the comp and the low angle. It is a very different image with the sand dune all around.:cheers:
Kiran
12-04-2011, 03:14 PM
John Ippolito
Morkel, this is a beauty. A nice laid back pose on the soft light of the dunes. From the EXIF data, it was after direct light, I assume. I can almost feel the cool sand here.
12-06-2011, 05:26 PM
Morkel Erasmus
Thanks for the wonderful responses, folks...glad you enjoyed it!
And thanks for the repost Steve...good to have options and I was thinking of doing that for comparison. I still prefer the redder tone of my post as that reflects the mood, moment and sand colour a bit better. :t3