One from the 'Cleaner' Andreas

[Steve Kaluski]

Mum being very tolerant with one of her two three-four week old cubs.

Steve

Subject: Playful cub with Mum (Panthera leo)
Location: Masai Mara
Camera: Canon EOS R3
Lens: EF500mm f/4L IS II USM HH
Exposure: 1/2000s at f/5.6 ISO5000 EV +0.67 Auto ISO
Original format: Landscape, very small crop
Processed via: LRC 12.3/DT & PS '23 24.4.0

[Gabriela Plesea]

A very good evening to you Steve,

Super happy to see this image posted here because it is very special to me. And as you know I am a great lover and admirer of the species

It takes lots of patience and also an ability to anticipate behaviour in order to capture moments like this. Love the joy and excitement from the little one as well as the grimace from mom and the 'oh-no-not-again, stop-it' look
Image well exposed with great detail, wonderful colours and yes a little 'punch'...just awesome!!! Background is superb. Nice 3D feel. Superb PP work, love it Steve, thank you so much for sharing

Warmest regards,

[Steve Kaluski]

Thank you Gabriela, a lot has changed over the months since this was shot, how I shoot/set up, (thank you Canon), but also in PP too as you know. A lot has been stripped away, but also shooting with folk who want to learn and develop their PP skills correctly.

The cubs were huge fun and reliable, once found most days, Dicky is going back in June, Pete is out for three months too soon sadly for me, but you will have fun I know.

All the best and hope you have electricity tonight.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Nice moment captured here, Steve. Really nice colour palette here, with the soft light and the wet textures of the fur.

Framed well, as usual. Wondering if f5.6 was a little too shallow? Would have been nice to have baby's bum in focus as much as mum's bum is?

I have been so out of touch with camera developments, but it looks like the R3 is really delivering the goods. Mirrorless has upended the applecart properly.

[Jonathan Ashton]

Top notch as always Steve, the image has a 3D effect, colours and details look spot on, my eyes are immediately drawn to the lioness, then the cub and then I appreciate the whole image.

[Volkan Akgul]

Hi Steve,

perfect. I fell in love with eyes, I couldn't see it at first, but at the last moment I encountered a striking effect. pp is very good. I don't need to go there, it's like I'm there.
congratulations

[Steve Kaluski]

Thank you Volkan, it’s simply about a ‘moment’.