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Thread: Lion portrait

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    Default Lion portrait

    Name:  male-lion.jpg
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    I'm hesitant to post lion images here because there have been so many excellent ones out up already, but I think this Maasai Mara male is a fine looking specimen.
    We found him together with an equally good looking female resting under a tree, just 200 metres from where we had our bush breakfast following an early morning balloon flight.

    I'm annoyed that I clipped the top tufts of his mane

    Cropped from horizontal, so this would be about 50% of the original image.

    Nikon D300s
    Nikon 70-300mm VR zoom lens @ 270mm, VR off
    1/800s
    f5.6
    ISO450

    I had the aperture set at f5.6 because there was not much light during our flight and I had not expected to see anything worth photographing between landing and breakfast - my mistake - lesson learned.

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    I like this. I would be tempted to crop in a little closer to make advantage of the detail and perhaps to lose the grass stems on the LHS. I think it could stand quite a bit more selective sharpening too.
    Ed

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    Thanks Edward,
    I did try a bit of sharpening but I wasn't happy with the way it looked as the nice soft look became quite harsh. I also tried a tighter crop but it made the poor fellow's head look a bit squashed

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    OK I understand that. I don't mean universal sharpening, but localised sharpening with a brush. Something like this? I will leave the crop as I think you are right on that one!!
    EdName:  131115_-2.jpg
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    Hi Martin

    Its is a nice portrait …and as you stated there are lots of great Lion images out-there. So in order for this image to stand out , you really have to make a decision about how far you are willing to take your PP. There is so much that can be done to enhance/improve this image or any image . Just depends how creative you want to be….

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Martin - nice portrait. I agree on your self-critique that it is too bad about the top of the mane. Good eye contact and colors. I agree on needed more sharpening and Ed's rp is the way to go. I would try to recover or burn the hot whites on the chin a little bit.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    This is a very nice portrait! I like the eyes looking straight at you and it must have been a fabulous moment to see this. I do like the selective sharpening that Ed applied.

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    Thanks Ed, I like your improvements. I'm a real wuss when it comes to PP. Could you give me some more details on what you did please?
    Peter, agreed - always ready to learn.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Martin's Lion

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    Hello Martin!

    I gave it a try at a tighter crop, WDYT?


    Love your lion, what a beauty! Still in his prime, he must be around four to five years of age, judging by his nose-still a bit of pink there. Stunning capture, have you got any images of him with his female?

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    Hi Martin.
    No problem - I just used the adjustment brush in LR with sharpness set to +20, and clarity to +10 and flow to 35% and just brushed over eyes, ears, whiskers, muzzle and the top of his nose.
    Ed

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Martin,

    I do like the OP with crop, but a tad more sharpening like Edward did in Pane #4.
    You got already good suggestions above.
    This would be a nice B&W as well!

    Have a great weekend

    Ciao
    Anette

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    A very handsome cat. Some great suggestions already and I, also would love to see a b&w conversion.

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    Thank you all.
    Gebriela, for me your crop is a bit too tight, I know I clipped the top of his mane but I think taking even more away somehow alters the look of his face.
    I'll explore the suggestions for a B+W version and see if any of the shots with the female are worth posting.

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    Excellent portrait Martin! TFS.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    No problem Martin, I was just playing around Love your lion anyway, cropped tight or not
    Gabriela Plesea

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