Lioness

[Hilary Hann]

Before anyone asks the traditional question "why not colour?" I'll answer it.

The lioness is sitting on black cotton soil with similar in the background. The earth is covered with light colour stones and was very distracting in the colour version. I found by converting to a monotone image I could reduce the effects of the light spots in the background with more traditional dark room procedures whereas in the colour version I would have had to clone out bright spots. So for those who don't like anything but colour, I'm sorry.

I have used some techniques learnt from Steve Kaluski but it isn't his fault if the results aren't up to standards!

7D; 100-400 @ 300; ISO 400; f6.3; 1/200

[Todd Frost]

Looks pretty good from my side of the screen Hilary. Comp and pose look good. Well done.
TFS
Todd

[Harshad Barve]

I am loving the pose of lioness here
TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Hilary

I personally I would say 'present as you see fit', you are the photographer and therefore how you interpret the image and what medium should be applied is down to you. There are many advantages to converting to B/W, and your explanation for one of the reasons is fine IMHO, but overall the image must not suffer by the conversion.

I really like the pose & profile, very relaxed, but the lioness seems to be engaged with something? I wonder if you have the room just to move the crop a fraction down, giving more room at the foot of the image? I like it as presented and it looks even better in PS, but wonder if you ran some Highlight/Shadow over the lioness only, just to opening some of the detail areas up.

Good to see you experimenting, continue & enjoy.

TFS
Steve

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Steve, good idea with the S/H. I don't have much space left but will have a look tomorrow when back at my desk. I felt that putting an explanation about the conversion 1st would avoid all the questioning about my decision which always seems to happen with b&w.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

[Marc Mol]

She looks quite battle scarred Hilary. Like the B&W conversion here with nice tonal variation.
TFS

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Marc, she was covered in cuts but I don't know why.