On no not another Lion

[Ken Watkins]

Taken in Deception Valley, Central Kalahari Game Reserve,5th March, during a short break in the mating session.

EOS 1D MkIII

500mm F4 IS hand-held

F7.1, 1/800, ISO 800,ev+1/3rd

I am not sure about this main crop from top to eliminate sky plus both sides and bottom.

[Marc Mol]

Without the green brush in the top BG, it would be a magical shot Ken.
Good composition as well. The long grass also seems an unusual color?

Cheers
Marc

[Ken Watkins]

Hi Marc,
I do hope you are not suggesting excessive manipulation (joke), but I will give it a go. As for the grass colour it is near to that in the RAW file, I think it must be the seed heads reflecting the setting sun, other than that I have no idea.

[Marc Mol]

Hi Ken
I'm not suggesting that the color is as a result of PP, just that it's unusual........I like it.

Cheers
Marc

[Ken Watkins]

Hi Marc,

I did not think you were suggesting that the strange colour was caused by PP.

But what you said about the bushes, made me go back to the other shots from the same sequence when the Lion had moved slightly forward and I probably slipped down a bit, and I hope I found one that lends itself to make them "disappear",

Ken

Having looked at both I am at a loss to understand why I posted the first one.

[Marc Mol]

That's it Ken, any chance of a slightly tighter crop?

[Steve Canuel]

I normally like layers in my images but the transition between the grass and trees is pretty abrupt on this one. I do really like the grass (both color and texture) and the head turn of the lion. Agree with Marc on a tighter crop if possible on your 2nd post.

[Ken Watkins]

Here is my third try, I think this is better?
I love this forum!

[Jay Gould]

Hi,

I really like the "new" BG; I preferred the original lion.

The original lion on my monitor is much stronger. It is also I think a tighter crop in the original image. Perhaps also sharper.

Anyway, isn't great to have all of these teachers.

Thanks for sharing.

Jay

[Stu Bowie]

I prefer your last repost, but maybe take a little off the right Ken.

[Mike Tracy]

The last background really intrigues me and I really like the patterns and colors. I do find the gorgeous light really accentuates his beautiful colors and the exposure is spot on.

The lion itself looks "strange" in my eyes and it has taken me a day to figure it out at least to my satisfaction. As is he almost looks cut and pasted into the scene. This pose where the emphasis is on his head works when the focus is on the animal itself and up close. As presented there is no depth to the animal itself. If you could have positioned yourself to his left just a tad and included more of his torso even if it had a shallow dof I think it would be stronger.

[Ken Watkins]

Jay,
I much prefer the Lion in the latest post, although perhaps it "glows" a little too much

Stuart
I agree with your cropping suggestion.

Mike
I agree this looks weird, the Lion itself has had much the same treatment in PP as the rest of the picture apart from the obvious selective sharpening. Repositioning yourself or your vehicle can be difficult in National Parks, where there is in theory no off-roading allowed.

I am now looking at another shot from later in the sequence with a full profile.

[Ed Cordes]

Last post is best to me as well. Looks like you had great light on the lion. He seems nice and sharp as well.

[Fabs Forns]

Most definitely the third!!!! gorgeous surroundings and spotless compo :)

[D. Robert Franz]

Love the 3rd try....

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for your comments on my 3rd attempt, it is nice to know that the advice you receive works out with a better product. I like it best as well.

Learning all the time!