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Thread: Lunar kopje King

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Lunar kopje King

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    It's 7.11pm with the last remnants of a sunset (behind me) and a male (one of 4 pride males) from the kusini kopje pride, begins to stir to the accompanyment of a rising full moon.

    It's not often one gets to capture a lion on a kopje at sunset with a rising full moon, so this was something quite special and well worth waiting for as we were well away from camp and way after park curfew time!

    There are 2 things (in an ideal world) I would have liked here, the first would be to have the moon higher, say in the top 1/3 of the sky and the other is a clean BG behind the lion, oh well.......musn't grumble

    Did I mention what a fabulous location for lion on kopje's this place is

    Kusini plains- Serengeti, Northern Tanzania.

    D4 80-400 AF-S 1/60s f/5 ISO3200@ 160mm. F/F. Held rock steady via a bean bag from front pax seat, curves, levels, TK lumo/mid pt adj, in ACR & PS CC '14.

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 03-13-2015 at 10:41 AM.


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    Fascinating image Marc. Great exposure on the subject with good sharpness and detail despite the poor lighting conditions. Wish the moon was higher but can't complain as this is a keeper by all means. Well done. How did you manage to stay back late in the park?
    cheers,
    sanjeev

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Marc this is really a nice scene you have captured , well not very often possible . I like the mood with the moon and the overall comp .
    Good detail and sharpness for the given techs . If this was mine , having the light situation in mind , i would go for less contrast and give it a more low light flat contrast . You have clipped the blacks slightly in all channels with the blue really plugged . But this is just my view .

    Still great to look at, TFS Andreas

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Sanjeev & Andreas


    Quote Originally Posted by Sanjeev Aurangabadkar View Post
    Fascinating image Marc. Great exposure on the subject with good sharpness and detail despite the poor lighting conditions. Wish the moon was higher but can't complain as this is a keeper by all means. Well done. How did you manage to stay back late in the park?
    cheers,
    sanjeev
    This is an area that sees few rangers, plus turning off your lights (having a full moon helped) and closing the roof when heading home is the key.


    Quote Originally Posted by Andreas Liedmann View Post
    You have clipped the blacks slightly in all channels with the blue really plugged . But this is just my view .

    Still great to look at, TFS Andreas
    Yes, pushing the contrast and hence the blacks was the result but no image damage done IMO, going the other way was also an option.


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marc - Very majestic looking male and I like its position in the frame. I agree with your self-critique that having the moon higher in the sky and toward the ulc would have taken this to another level. I too think a less contrasty version and perhaps a bit darker too would be a good alternative. Not sure it is worth breaking the rules for your guide if you had gotten caught though.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Rachel
    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Not sure it is worth breaking the rules for your guide if you had gotten caught though.

    TFS,
    Rachel
    Please
    Having travelled to Africa since 1982,
    as always, it's my guide who calls the shots here and it was totally at his discretion alone when it came to time to leave, he knew the area and associated risks very well.
    May I also say that not at any time were inducements made or offered.


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Marc - That's great that the decision was in your guide's hands and no inducements but not everyone is as familiar with the rules and practices as you are. Someone reading your post could interpret it to be ok to break the rules in this part of the park and put pressure on their guide to do so because they know others have.

    But we are going off topic.

    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Hollander View Post
    Marc - That's great that the decision was in your guide's hands and no inducements but not everyone is as familiar with the rules and practices as you are. Someone reading your post could interpret it to be ok to break the rules in this part of the park and put pressure on their guide to do so because they know others have.

    But we are going off topic.

    Rachel

    Yes true, understand, I just wanted to clarify that point.


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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Dear Marc,

    I really like that you always seek to capture the unusual, and from time to time you surprise me with an image that steps out of the ordinary. I know you have fantastic opportunities, but it takes more than that to capture something special This is a very special sighting and even though the lighting conditions were not ideal you produced an image one is tempted to view again and again. I like this very much, the only suggestion I have is perhaps to try and go for a more pano crop and see if you like it more - just take a tad off the top, WDYT?

    A pleasure to view, thank you for sharing
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Marc

    What a sighting you have captured!

    Agree a tighter crop from the top will have more impact...

    Very special moment...
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    A stunning scene mate, well worth waiting for...and agree that the guide needs to set the rules and terms of engagement. Some of them can also be cowboys sometimes, helps to work with the same guide for years and build up rapport. I agree a pano crop from top would further enhance this...exposure expertly handled.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Gabriela & Morkel

    Both your crop suggestion is certainly one to look at and is a good alternative.

    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    A stunning scene mate, well worth waiting for...and agree that the guide needs to set the rules and terms of engagement. Some of them can also be cowboys sometimes, helps to work with the same guide for years and build up rapport.


    Couldn't agree more, let's not start me on guide ethics by some in the Mara
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 03-15-2015 at 03:36 AM.


  20. #13
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marc Mol View Post
    Couldn't agree more, let's not start me on guide ethics by some in the Mara
    Yep, particularly that "other" side of the river

    Looking forward to some more images from these lions!
    Morkel Erasmus

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  22. #14
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    Hello Marc ! What an exquisite scene, and I agree with the moon higher than its current position. How abt this crop ??

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