A female with serious focus and intent

[Carl Walker]

One morning last year I came across a lioness and her 4 cubs moving from a previous kill on route to a waterhole.

7d
300mm f2,8 Mk II + 2 x extender Mk III
ISO 400 - f8 - 1/2000 sec

ACR basics
PS CC14 - Luminosity masks - levels & curves. Sat layer and very small amount of Topaz denies applied. The framing is @ 6 X 4 but I took a little off top as it did not seem balanced. I think there is other options but chose this. This is pretty much processed similar to what the raw came out as.

C&C welcome as always - Thanks

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Hi Carl, This is a nice image, well exposed, nicely processed & sharp. Good colour balance as well.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Carl - a nice, simple profile with a slight turn towards you. Great dof and pleasing bg. My guess is that the light was already somewhat harsh as your EXIF shows -1 EC too. If it were mine I would reduce the reds a bit to give it less of an orange look in the ears and nose. I'd prefer a tiny more room below for the chin hairs but not a deal breaker.

TFS,
Rachel

[Carl Walker]

Thanks Rachel - This was taken around 8am and it gets brighter even at that time here. I reduced the orange quite a bit so I am happy with it but I had nothing for the bottom to add. In hindsight I should have checked for better images as I have now found one but at the time this looked ok. As always thanks!

[hennieloots]

Hi Carl. Stunning shot - like the detail and the focus. Great colors and processing. The space at the bottom fine for me.
TFS, cheers
Hennie

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Carl

Did Reduced Sat layer and up the lightness on yellows.
Midtone boost.
TK Dodge and Burn layer.
Softened the BG.
Did not resharpen for web.
Would like a tad more at bottom...
WDYT?

[Gabriela Plesea]

I like this very much Carl, you handled the harsh light so well. Looks like she is stalking and the title is therefore very appropriate. I do desire for a tad more space on the bottom, but who am I to ask such thing of you, when I cut off the paw of my beloved lioness?Beautiful light and I love the colours, pose is fantastic and I like the space you are giving the subject. Lovely detail and I like the colours of the BG, the shadow behind her head makes her face stand out beautifully. I would love to meet this girl by the way, hope you introduce us some day

Great work Carl!!!

Warmest regards,

[Carl Walker]

Thanks Sanjeev, Hennie, Gabriela and Andre.

Andre it looks good thanks. All the series of images that morning are similar with that saturated look

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Carl,
all said already and enough suggestions. I like the OP, but as well Andre RP. I might would go in the middle between both, but that is just me!

Have a nice evening

Ciao

Anette

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Carl very nice side profile of that lioness with that concentrated look forward ignoring the viewer !!!! Love it.
Great details and nice tonality in OP , colors are looking better in Andre`s RP for my taste.In a very nice world you would have not clipped the tip of the hairs but no deal breaker .

Get the elephants to that stage .....

TFS Andreas