Come just a little bit closer...

[Brendan Dozier]

In photo caravan at wildlife park, late afternoon. Started shooting and she just just locked in on me - “how bout you come just a little bit closer” That was the first time I had been that close, could feel the intensity of her gaze. Excited to get shot, but glad we moved along quickly.

Canon 7D, 70-200 L IS II with Ext 2x II
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/125
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 1600
Lens EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM +2.0x
Focal Length 360.0mm

[Todd Frost]

Nice head on stare. Would love to have more room below for her paws. A bit more sharpening on her face if it will take it.
TFS
Todd

[DanWalters]

Great eye contact. Would like to see a little more room on the bottom.

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks for your feedback guys, I agree, need more room below.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Hi Brendan

more room below noted - as well as apparent sharpness...
it also looks a tad underexposed to me, maybe try to lift it using curves or levels.

where exactly was this taken?

[Brendan Dozier]

Thanks for your feedback Morkel, I will play with the levels and see what I can do. It was getting dark out at the time so ISO was high. I am still learning how to do sharpening properly.
This was a photo caravan at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park (formerly the San Diego Wild Animal Park) this month.

I like the B&W shot of the two lions on your website and the ones of the Kingfisher too - very nice.

[Hilary Hann]

Agree with previous comments. Nice head on, intense stare but some room for her front paws would have added to the composition. Sharpness not quite there but I like the background and the soft feathery grasses are quite pleasant. She looks kind of woolly, as if she is living in a colder climate than the lions I'm used to seeing so would also be interested to know which wildlife park she is in.

[Robert Amoruso]

Good comments above including more room on bottom and sharpening.

[Rachel Hollander]

Brendan - Nice head on view and some very good advice above.

TFS,
Rachel

[Harshad Barve]

You gotta love this , With great suggestions above this can be improved much
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Good advice from above. I like the intense stare, and she looks pretty powerful.

[Brendan Dozier]

Ok, here's her loveliness once again with recommended changes.
Added to bottom, sharpened, and raised exp. a bit. Also, I was a pretty heavy handed with tone and color adjustments with the first one so I started from scratch and eased up.
I think it looks much better.

Be careful, she will entrance you with her hypnotic stare!

Happy Holidays!