"Not so Big" Hwange Lion

[Ken Watkins]

The friend of the magnificent black maned Lion.

Taken on Ngweshla Plains, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, 1st July 2010, just after sunrise to his right.

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand-held from vehicle.

F7.1, ISO 400, 1/320

[Hal Everett]

Nice light, composition, and exposure. With the 1D IV, I would have upped the ISO and used a faster shutter speed hand held.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Ken Like the relaxed pose and surroundings !! Could lighten the lion just a bit then bump the contrast

btw do like the suggestion by Hal to increase the ISO ...does getting some used to :)

[Deborah Harrison]

Nice image, like the capture of the whole lion including tip of tail! I agree with the others and personally would have cropped some of the foreground - it may be tack sharp but detracts from the lion.

Just my 2 cents....

[Harshad Barve]

Ken , lovely relaxed pose and nice rock he has chosen to seat on, another vote for contrast boost TFS

[Ken Watkins]

Using these "extreme" ISO's takes some getting use to, but I will get there I hope.

Harshad, the "rock" is actally an old and well worn out termite mound.

Here is a repost taking into account all of the suggestions.

What do you think?

[Harshad Barve]

Re-post ROCKS

[Sabyasachi Patra]

I agree that increasing the ISO would be better. When ever required, I click at ISO 800. To me the ISO 800 of Mark IV is like the ISO 400, if not the ISO 200 of my backup 1D Mark II. I prefer to use a higher shutter speed with the Mark IV, than what I am used to with my 1D Mark II.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Morkel Erasmus]

repost is very nice Ken...I've heard that Mk4 can handle high ISO's very well, you should let go of that "restraint" :)

[Deborah Harrison]

Nice repost!