Not sure my portrait of this lioness actually works, this is for you to decide. I guess just viewing might be enough to put you to sleep? One thing is for sure, my subject was completely relaxed and even the camera shutter did not interfere with her siesta. I remember taking a couple of frames and then resting my head on the beanbag waiting for her to stir, eventually I fell asleep too. When I opened my eyes the lioness wasn't there anymore, she returned the favour by silently departing without disturbing my sleep. Following her spoor I realised she walked right past the vehicle. Such are those Kalahari lions, they do not give a **** about us humans. This is but one reason why I have so much admiration and love for them, and why I go camping there year after year instead spending my holidays in some sad hotel room.
Lighting conditions were a bit difficult but I exposed best I could, exif as follows:
Nikon D4
Nikon 500mm F4
+1/3 EV
ISO 1250
F7.1
1/1250s
Hi Gabriela - Sorry, but these sleeping lion shots don't work for me without some other element to add interest. I either don't take them or if I do to check my settings, exp, etc, they wind up binned. It is processed well with nice light and detail and I like the comp. The eyes closed just kills it for me.
Gabriela it works beautifully for me,think this months theme as really made me think about birds and beasts with there eyes closed,think the Lion itself looks excellent my only little negative thought was how it would look with a bit more space all around,and just my personal taste of course .
this works for me very well. She is not sleeping, she just visits her innersole :)
Details and all sit for me as well. One of my lion images, a sleeping one, is quite a runner for people as a print! Never underestimate a sleeping lion/ness :)
Hy Gabi, nice shot! Really like the look on her face, I'd say she is deep into meditation, and the colour of the BG brings out the details in her face. Plus the position of her ears, like she is still keeeping contact with her surrroundings.
I did not expect everyone to be moved by my sleeping Sphinx and I am more than happy with your honest feedback For those of you who asked, the reason why I cropped so tight is - I wanted to get closer to the subject's facial features and let you into her soul, so to speak. Other images I have of this lioness show her body covered in deep scars which I feared would detract you from seeing what I wanted you to see. Which is a content lioness in harmony with nature in her solitude, a certain abandonment, a kind of happiness...in lion terms, that is...
I am really enjoying this month's theme as it poses a bit of challenge. So I will be back with more images soon:) Once again, thank you for viewing and comments, appreciated
Falling Asleep with Mrs. Lion
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For those of you who asked, the reason why I cropped so tight is - I wanted to get closer to the subject's facial features and let you into her soul, so to speak. Other images I have of this lioness show her body covered in deep scars which I feared would detract you from seeing what I wanted you to see. Which is a content lioness in harmony with nature in her solitude, a certain abandonment, a kind of happiness...in lion terms, that is...
