Lioness @ Lake Nakuru

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

We had an afternoon game drive at Lake Nakuru on the 4th of Aug, 2013. It was a rainy day and our drive was coming to an end. About half a kilometre from our lodge at around 6 pm we spotted this lioness emerging from nowhere! Light was low and she began moving, so had to up the ISO to 6400 to get decent SS (still slow I guess) but I was the glad the 5D3 focussed well and I was happy with the sharpness i got. I don't think it was possible with my 7D ! The IQ of 5d3 has impressed me. And I certainly did not expect to see a lioness at Nakuru! Not the best of lion images but at 6400 ISO and fading light I think its not bad.

Camera	Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Exposure	(1/80)
Aperture	f/5.6
Focal Length	700 mm
ISO Speed	6400
Exposure Bias	+1 EV

[Gregor Bergquist]

Hi Sanjeev

I think I know this lioness from my trip to Lake Nakuru in November 2011. I did two posts with her then:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ran?highlight=

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...n-2?highlight=

I´m really glad to see her doing well, as the pictures of her is some of the pictures I have I like the most.

This was really difficult circumstance for you to take this shot, and you made the most of it, though the angle and light is not the most favorable. I love her looks and eyes.

Personally I´m not a fan of pictures with to much bright green colors. I know others think different. I did a fast try in Lightroom, adding some exposure +0.5, changing some colors (Hue; green -67, Saturation; Red +16, green -17; Luminance blue +20, purple + 10), and selective on her added a bit sharpness (+17). Then I added a filter on Fg and BG decreasing clarity by -60. WDYT?

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Sanjeev - thanks for the bg but this is probably one where I would have enjoyed the sighting rather than tried to make an image. Although the 5D3 can handle high ISOs, the image isn't sharp due to the slow ss. I think the colors of the op look fine and not too saturated or bright but you were there and are the best judge.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Loi, certainly the colour is 'off' although Gregor's is better both are carrying tinges of colour throughout. I like the posture & framing, but with the slow SS I'm not sure if this is a keeper?

TFS
Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

Sanjeev, it seems like an exhilarating moment but I'm with Steve...not sure this one is going to carry your portfolio...
It's hard and I suck at judging these moments myself - but sometimes it really is worth it (for our own enjoyment) to just sit and watch.

I too see some latent magenta in the lioness.