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Thread: Lion Cub Close-up

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    Default Lion Cub Close-up

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    Taken in South Africa in August of this year. This pride of lion walked up to our game drive vehicle and lay down all around us and the mother began to feed this little cub, he lifted his head off the teet and I took this.
    The reflection in it's eye is the sky and our game vehicle. Typically I don't shoot head shots like this, however this little guy and I made eye contact.
    Thoughts opinions suggestions and critique is always welcomed.

    Blurb:
    Canon 1Dx
    500 f4
    iso 400
    1/250th
    Cropping: Just a tiny amount off camera right

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    Hi Galvin, very cute cub, good exposure. Not sure if you shot at F4, but I suspect you did due to the shallow DOF. For a close up portrait, I think the face should be sharper and shows more details. I'd try to sharpen the face more and add a little more contrast ti bring out the details. The BG is a bit distracting, so I'd suggest darken it a little bit. You may also want to consider a square crop. TFS. Loi

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gavin- He gave you a nice look to camera and there's a good cuteness factor. My initial thought was also that the dof was too narrow. With the 1DX you can certainly up the ISO significantly to get more ss and dof. I'd also like a little more room especially below.

    It would also be great if you would add your thoughts on other people's images. It helps us all learn from each other and fosters a feeling of community. We recommend commenting on at least 3-5 other images each time you post your own image.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Thanks Rachael, and I am happy to provide my thoughts on other images.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gavin, with the 1DX's my default is 800, the IQ is super and upping the ISO will give you a lot more to play with in terms of DOF & SS.

    As commented the DOF looks too shallow i.e. f/4, you needed more from eyes to nose, likewise 1/250 HH with the 500 is doable, but you have to be rock steady. The face has a nice endearing look, but as Rachel highlighted, it needs more room below, so you could have easily swopped formats, as I doubt this cub would have moved for a while. Going landscape and the placement of the head is OK, however the patch of black to the left is distracting, likewise the lighter part around the right rear. To avoid cloning/masking I would suggest an alternative and that would be a square. Not ideal, but it brings more focus into the face. I would drop the blue, both in the eyes and head and perhaps add some Vibrance/saturation, just to warm things up a tad. I wouldn't add any more contrast as it will choke the blacks IMHO, in fact I would drop the contrast and using Curves just bring the mid tone down to slightly open the area around the eyes to bring a bit more definition.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Thanks guys, I did look at bumping the contrast prior to posting this image but as Steve said it really choked the blacks, and as for a square crop it really did not fit my eye, and I guess that I am not partial to square cropping. Agreed. the DOF should have been deeper

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    Hi Gavin,

    Lovely image with high cuteness factor, as mentioned by Loi, I think it could benefit from some extra sharpness on the face.

    TFS
    Gert

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Gavin,

    you've got great suggestions above. I as well agree with the sharpness in the face a tad more Dof would do good in this one. Square crop was in my mind too. You just need to try it out a few times, you might like it sooner or later for some images
    Also would drop the blues, that was my first thought when seeing the blues!

    Have a great eve

    Ciao
    Anette

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    As Steve says about the black and white. Areas/splotches that are bright or have high contrast pull the eye towards them. Any photograph, any subject.
    Tom

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Some good points made already, Gavin...
    I too felt it was very gritty/contrasty when opening it up initially. I would crop tighter from the LHS given your framing here.
    Where in SA was this? Presume Sabi Sands?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Thanks Morkel, I agree with some of the comments that were made about the image, and I disagree with others, but I respect everyones opinion. There are few images that will ever please everyone and each photographer artist has to identify with his own style and be true to that.
    To all that have posted suggestions and critiques I thank you for that for we cannot grow if everyone simply says "nice image" and it is refreshing to see how different each person sees an image, thank goodness for that.
    And yes the image was shot in Sabi Sand near Mala Mala

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    True, Gavin - you can't please everybody. Hopefully through gleening the critiques given here everyone can arrive at a point where they learn something, improve their images but still retain their own artistic vision for their photography.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hi Gavin - all the techs covered. I do like the image and the eye contact with the sparkle is the are very cool.
    TFS
    Hennie

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