Dune Lionesses

[Rudi van den Heever]

We returned to the Kagalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa after more than a year since our last visit (had to see the first new member of the family through his first year). On our first morning drive in the park this pride greeted us just after we passed through the Tweerivieren Rest Camp's gate... I waited for the rising sun to change the kalahari dunes into that magical red, but the soft light added a different dimension to the scene. The image is full frame but for the crop to straighten the horison and to cut some of the empty sky...

Equipment: Canon 7D and 500mm F4 L lens
Settings: F4 at 1/500s and ISO 800 with exposure compensation of +2/3

[Loi Nguyen]

Rudi, beautiful, magical light. I'm amazed that you got such a good DOF at F 4. Love the green vegetation in contrast with the red dirt. TFS. Loi

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Rudi - love the red sands and the inclusion of the vegetation works here. I know the lions of the area tend to be darker but there seems to be some blue on the lionesses, particularly the tails.

TFS,
Rachel

[Morkel Erasmus]

A lovely summer Kalahari scene with the yellow wildflowers on the dune, Rudi.
Nice choice on the pano presentation - looks like the Rooiputs/Leeuwdril area?
I agree with Rachel on the hint of blue, easy fix for you. I am looking forward to seeing more of your recent trip's images!

[Rudi van den Heever]

Thanks guys!

I already reduced the blues to -35% in LR, but once again had a look and suppose I will have to go for less blue in the tail area and sacrifice the shrubs in the right bottom - with less blue its seems a bit less than its natural colour, so suppose it is lioness vs shrub...

[Morkel Erasmus]

Why not do selective adjustments to the lioness only? I know those shrubs look quite blue in soft light like this.