Lion snarl

[Steve Kaluski]

Amazing that within minutes of head rubbing and general greetings between two brothers, things flare up into lashing out with paws, snarling and baring of teeth. He was beginning to calm down when this was taken. Sadly after a month of taking this I heard one of the males had killed all the 2 month old cubs within the pride.

Hard to think these animals are in the same danger as Tigers and in similar numbers or less, depending on the source you read.

Steve
MKIII 500f/4 1/250sec f/4 ISO200 (HH, almost FF cropped a fraction)

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Steve, nice lion shot, like the expression here, aggressive and strong, ears back this time means threat posture, and also like the bared fangs. Well exposed, sharp all over lion, and nice BG. One tech question, do you feel there is enough benefit gained from using iso200 against iso400 when S/S is quite low (you did very well to get a perfectly sharp shot handholding 500mm at 1/250s). Lion numbers in India are meant to be under 500, and in Africa less than 20 000, but decreasing steadily here...in many of range areas.
cheers
grant

[Hilary Hann]

Steve, where was this taken? Love the posture and would echo Grant's question re ISO and SS. From all I read lions are in real trouble but no one is really listening because most safaris will serve up lions fairly easily still. (no sad smiley face anymore, but I would use it here)

Your lion has the funniest mohawk mane!

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Grant,

I managed to wedge myself into a position that gave me a steady hand, low POV, but not an ideal escape route if things irrupted and where I managed to crack the end barrel of the 500 :eek:. I wasn't holding it for long, few seconds, fire of a few shots, rested, let the animals settle down again, then recomposed. No much room left with the 300f/2.8 and 70-200 around your feet with bodies attached, cameras that is. Dropping to 200 was less than ideal, but it worked. I tend to use my default setting, but will vary on occasions depending on the situation.

It's imperative that male lion increase before another animal is lost.

cheers
Steve

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Hilary, the shot was taken in the Mara.

My post a few more later, as they are a bit more 'different' LOL.

cheers
Steve

[Ken Watkins]

Hard to think these animals are in the same danger as Tigers and in similar numbers or less, depending on the source you read.

Nothing like the danger unless you believe a certain well known film maker. Plenty everywhere I've been, and still eating cattle and people. There are certainly very few Tigers.

I think the image needs more space on LHS.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Seriously Steve how did you get this low angle :eek: You are indeed very brave. The excellent sharpness and POV make this for me, only thing that distracts is the one blade of grass near his mouth TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

only thing that distracts is the one blade of grass near his mouth

Bugged me too , could clone out, but then...

[Harshad Barve]

Lovely pose and excellent techs

Bugged me too , could clone out, but then...

I am here to ask you not use lawn movers
TFS

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Ken, there are very few who would argue that lion numbers are not declining. Certainly in Botswana in the areas where proper tally is kept, numbers are down. Main causes are retaliatory or pre-emptive killings by livestock owners. National Parks and reserves that have open boundaries without fences 'bleed' lions to the outside all the time. Yes, there are some places where numbers are maintaining, but in most areas numbers are declining. There are also likely to be more lions being killed by poachers as the demand grows for lion bones in Asia, a trade already established in South Africa. Certainly there are more lions than tigers, but that is no reason to be complacent.
Grant

[Steve Kaluski]

I am here to ask you not use lawn movers

And that is why it is in my friend.

[Ken Watkins]

Certainly there are more lions than tigers, but that is no reason to be complacent.
Grant

I am not complacent, but prefer to believe the reality rather than the myths spread by those trying to raise funds. I have good friends wo work in the field for WCS and EWT, which are in my opinion more worthy of belief.

[Morkel Erasmus]

nice low angle and pose here - top image quality too Steve

might have like a teeny sliver more space on the LHS

Ken - I don't think the 'famous filmmaker' ever intended to put the endangerment levels of lions and tigers on the same statistical scale, just that the lions are following the trend of tigers. In merely 50 years the lion population worldwide has taken a scary dip.

[Ken Watkins]

Ken - I don't think the 'famous filmmaker' ever intended to put the endangerment levels of lions and tigers on the same statistical scale, just that the lions are following the trend of tigers. In merely 50 years the lion population worldwide has taken a scary dip.

Morkel,

I did not say that a "famous filmaker" did, the claim that Lions were as endangered as Tigers was made in the original post. I am merely trying to put my own point of view, but think that this sort of thing is best not mentioned in the first place.

The real factors in the decline in the Lion population are population growth and reduction in suitable areas, not those that are always blamed.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel, I wanted really the snarl and aggression, (albeit limited), to come through. If I went for more on the LHS then would have shot landscape, probably with the 70-200 offering more all round. Appreciate the input.

Steve

[Grant Atkinson]

Ken, I also work in the field, and if the "certain well-known film maker" who you say 'spreads myths" rather than reality is who I think it is, Derek Joubert, then I know him personally. He has put much of his own time, money and energy into raising awareness of conservation issues, and has played a role in the success that Botswana has had in conservation.
I have no idea why you feel the need to start running people down in the first place.
Steve, sorry to have to have this run through your thread.
cheers
Grant

[Rachel Hollander]

Steve -great snarl and like the funky mane. Grass doesn't bother me but cut off paw does. I wonder if a tighter crop would work.

TFS,
Rachel

[Dumay de Boulle]

Fantastic IQ as usual Steve

[Todd Frost]

Nice portrait Steve. Techs are spot on. Well done.
TFS
Todd

[Ken Watkins]

Ken, I also work in the field, and if the "certain well-known film maker" who you say 'spreads myths" rather than reality is who I think it is, Derek Joubert, then I know him personally. He has put much of his own time, money and energy into raising awareness of conservation issues, and has played a role in the success that Botswana has had in conservation.
I have no idea why you feel the need to start running people down in the first place.
Steve, sorry to have to have this run through your thread.
cheers
Grant

This forum is no place for a debate on Wildlife conservation, I have replied to this by PM.

[Steve Kaluski]

Fine Ken, but guys, please keep it polite.

I have let you have your replies and a line has been drawn in the sand. I was going to suggest, if you wish to continue this conversation then by all means start a fresh thread in Discussions where others may wish to add their POV?

Therefore, any further comments on this particular thread other than in connection with regard to the image will be deleted.

[James Shadle]

In the future, please limit comments in this forum to image critiques.
This is an interesting topic. Our General Discussion Forum would be a great place to continue the discussion.

Thanks,
James