Pensive Lion

[Rachel Hollander]

When I posted this image in color for last month's theme both Steve and Gabriela suggested doing a b&w or toned version. I said I would but would wait to post it until this month's theme, so here it is.

Canon 50D
100-400 @ 400mm
1/200
f5.6
ISO 400
HH from safari vehicle, cropped slightly for comp, converted in Nik Silver Efex with one conversion style for the lion and another for the bg, slight coffee toning, selective dodging and burning, sharpened in CCPS.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Rachel, having just revisited the color version to decide which i like more , i prefer the color one, for just the reason of being more tonal/color variation in the frame.
Still like this a lot as an image , conversion looks good to me , too.

TFS Andreas

[Gabriela Plesea]

Indeed a beauty Rachel, I like the colour and the toned version just as much, lovely detail! I am so tempted to lean forward and pinch his whiskers

Warmest regards,

[Nancy Bell]

Lovely tones in this version. However in this version I notice all the lines in the bkgd much more and that reduces some of the impact of the stare of the lion. I would consider taking those details down some and/or cropping some away making a tighter portrait. Still, an amazing dramatic portrait!

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, I might try Coffee 13, but then adjust the Strength, Silver Hue & Toning, as it may give more 'tone' to the overall image?

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Andreas, Gabriela, Nancy and Steve for the comments and suggestions. I also prefer the color version. Steve - I'll have to check later which coffee tone I used.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Marc Mol]

A good choice for B&W conversion here Rachel, with the coffee tone perhaps a little too strong, would back off a touch on that, have been flicking between this and the colour version
and the colour wins by a whisker.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Marc, I agree.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Hello Rachel,

I just revisited this image because I like it so much.

Forgive my ignorance, I was busy reading the comments above and I came across Steve's suggestion, he mentions "coffee 13" - is this to be found in Silver EFX? Could not find it in CS6.

Warmest regards, have a great week-end,

[Rachel Hollander]

Gabriela - yes, in Silver EFX there are several toning choices including "Coffee 13." There used to be a 2 week free trial for Nik. If it is still available, you and Andre should play around with it.

Rachel

[Morkel Erasmus]

It works well for me both ways, Rachel. Hard to pick one as both enhance different qualities and moods for this lion.
I would back down on the toning here just a smidge, as mentioned.

@ Gabriela, worth investing in the Nik package, makes a wonderful addition to the toolset!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Morkel.

[Ashleigh Scully]

Hi I didn't see the original but I like this one just as it is. I agree that the background may be too busy for being this closeup to the lion. I think the tones are amazing I wish I could do that!

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Ashleigh. And you can do it too.