Mountain Lion

[Ian Cassell]

Another from my visit to the Phoenix Zoo this past weekend

Canon 7D
Sigma 100-300mm f/4
1/640 f/4 ISO 3200 HH

S/H CS5, Sharpening in GF6/CS5, NR in Noiseware Pro

It was a challenge getting any image at all here. It was dark in the caged area and there was a chain-link front to the cage with caked-on dirt on all the links. I was separated from the chain-link by several feet due to a second fence. Somehow, I managed to get the lion far enough behind the links so I could selectively blur them out with my wide aperture but not so far that I needed a would have needed a major crop. Between situations like this and cages with poor lighting, dirty glass, or tight-weave link, sometimes I feel that zoos have it in for photographers.

[Austin Thomas]

Hi Ian,

You have done well under the circumstances.

I would concentrate the crop more on the head and eye as the rest of the body is not complete and isn't adding much to the image IMHO.

Cheers

Austin

[Morkel Erasmus]

I would love to see one of these in the wild someday...

I agree with Austin here, and think that some noise reduction on the BG and selective sharpening on the head can improve this image

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, Folks. I'm not sure I can get much more NR to work well, but I'll try. There was already quite a bit (this was ISO 3200). I will also try some more selective sharpening.

I saw a wild one many years ago, but no images :( . I'd love to see one again. They are VERY reclusive.

[Rachel Hollander]

Ian - Sounds like tough shooting conditions. Something looks a little off to me in the color (silvery patches with little detail), not sure if it was due to the high ISO and NR or if you did some S/H adjustment as well. I haven't tried to push my 7D that high.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Canuel]

Beautiful cats. Came across their tracks on a few occasions but never sighted one. I'd crop this to a vertical to around just inside the elbow. A little NR on the BG and some color adjustment will make this a nice little portrait. Nice job eliminating the fence.

[Harshad Barve]

Super cool cat and you have done very well here , excellent advise above
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Although one has a choice of different animals at a zoo, I agree, the opportunities arent always there. You have done well here, and agree a tighter crop will work.