Hope you are having a fabulous festive season! Here's something I would like to share, a very special moment, although my image does not really give it justice...It was more exciting (being close to these two lady lionesses) than you can imagine - they got so close to my car window, at some point I removed the camera and lens and just sat and watched, holding my breath:) Light was quite harsh and I tried to capture this best as I could. Adjustments in LR and CS6 (WB, exposure, curves, levels, a slight crop, D/B, as well as sharpening for web).
Techs: Nikon D4
Nikon 500mm
ISO 400
F7.1
1/2500s
PS Just for interest' sake, the older lioness (L side of the image) is old Fred's partner (a male lion we have seen and photographed for some 6 years). I believe she formed an alliance with another two lionesses as he is probably no longer alive, only one of those females is portrayed in this image. My previous thread shows her chasing a giraffe. She has a bit of an eye problem, possibly an infection due to injury. I so badly wanted to grab a tube of antibiotic ointment and squeeze it into that half-closed eye! Well, reason prevailed and anyway, I have a strong sense of self-preservation:)... I am sure she would not have been able to appreciate my good intentions...
Wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with joy, and wonderful photographic opportunities!
Hi Gabriela - I'm glad you found some time to process and post an image. Season's greetings to you too. Great moment and interaction captured. Looks like you handled the harsh light well. I like the placement in frame. Those are 2 of the cleanest and unscarred lionesses that I've ever seen. It's good that you resisted the urge to treat her eye though.
Beautifully composed image of the two lionesses with great interaction. Very tender moment captured despite the harsh light. Very nice colours & details. TFS. Happy new year Gabriela. Hope to see more of your images in 2015.
Thank you Rachel and Sanjeev! I was burning to work on some images the whole of December but had to postpone due to time constraints, strangely when I did get some time to do so I kind of struggled to get back into the mood...I could not make up my mind what to work on and went through hundreds of images without being able to decide. This is not like me, I usually have something in mind before I even switch on the computer and then I look for it:) I guess the break was just too long...I wanted predators, a story, a clean BG, a sharp subject, maybe some action, as well as that "WOW" factor...Instead, I settled for those two lionesses walking and leaning against each other in the most affectionate way - something gentle and more along the Xmas spirit:)
Interesting enough, just minutes before I took this image those two lionesses had a clash second to none. The older one had just chased a giraffe all on her own (see my previous thread) and was rather upset that no one came to help. The clan consisted of three adult lionesses and four subadults, all lazying about in the shade as she took on the giraffe. Of course she had to give up and eventually returned, to be greeted by everyone - they all seemed "embarrassed" of their laziness and apologetic, but she still took it out on the first lioness. Luckily the fight did not last long and no one got injured, a couple of swats and the war was over! I do have a few images of the whole scene, not entirely happy with the composition there but if you wish to see them do let me know.
I am really grateful you took the time to view my images and passed so many kind comments and suggestions - my heartfelt thanks to the moderators and well as members! What an amazing place BPN Wildlife is, I have learnt so much and hoping to learn more in 2015, THANK YOU all so much
Just a lovely moment between two Kgalagadi queens, Gabriela. You did as well as anyone could in the light and by KTP standards it's not too harsh LOL
Have a super 2015!
Neat shot Gabriela. When I first looked at it I thought of two drunks leaning against each other as they stumbled out of a pub. As I looked at it a little longer a second time, it reminded me of a cat rubbing against a mirror. That's the one I'll stick with. A nicely processed photo of some sweet interaction.
Great tender moment captured here Gabriela, and the loose composition strengthens the image further. Interaction between the pair is great to see, especially given the additional information over the earlier clash.
Maybe you should practice squirting eye ointment from a water pistol next time
Enjoyed seeing your images since I joined here this year, all the best for 2015
Hi Gabriela a nice shot to finish this year of photography from your beloved Kalahari Lions.
Nicely processed and you handled the light very well , i can judge because i have been there with you .......... .I love the tender moment you captured , i have the same image taken from a unfortunate angle so i avoid posting this .
Very nice tone and color and your sharpening is spot on !!!!! wonder how that comes ???? LOL.
Thank you to bits for letting me be part of your life for a short time , enjoyed every minute with you and Andre , hope for a revival in 2015/16 if our schedule allows.
Have a successful and happy 2015 with regards to Andre , too .
Hi Gabriela, the image gave me a nice chuckle after seeing Steve C's comment. Nicely timed in capturing the moment, like the offset placement, perhaps a little off the top? Well processed.
All the very best for 2015 and whatever the future hold.
Hope the year has begun well for you all, myself and Andre had an awesome New Year's Eve in the company of our photographer friend Carl Walker, and the most amazing day today which we will always remember as "Big 5 Day". More details to follow, for now I just wish to thank you for viewing this image and to say I smiled from ear to ear (or rather, from Year to Year) reading some of your humorous comments above.
I apologise for not commenting on a number of images over the past few weeks, December is the busiest time of the year for us - we live in a small village in South Africa which is situated in the proximity of a number of game reserves as well as 90 km from Sodwana Bay beaches (where the sealacanth was discovered), tourists are flocking in from all over the country as well as from abroad, locals are on holiday as well, and there's only one shop here that caters for everyone's needs, be it medicines or supplements, gifting, clothing, cameras and accessories : our pharmacy. We work long hours, treat patients, manage the various departments of the shop as well as squeeze in some printing work on the side. I will catch up with BPN Wildlife very soon and looking forward to viewing all your December images!
Will take a little off the top, Steve - thank you! Cannot wait to view the January theme images, a bit of challenge for me but I will do my best to participate. Andreas, aka Mr. B.E. - we treasure those memories of us together in the Kalahari, so special and memorable and we shall get together again sometime, right now we are contemplating visiting other locations as well, hopefully Morkel can help with some suggestions of new places to explore:)