Down and nearly out.
This picture was taken in the Moremi reserve, Botswana. It was an old, emaciated male lion, he died a few days later. Not one of the magnificent specimens depicted in the forum. That's how it ends in nature. Sad and heart breaking. The eyes really says it all.
Canon 100-400, F 5,6
ISO 400
Canon 20D
What a powerful image. His eyes say he is beginning to let go, and his scared nose tells us a little about the life he led. I might darken the upper & lower rt corners some, and a tad bit more sharpening, but this has a tragic beauty to it.
It is a lucky wild animal who can lie down and die in peace. Almost want to put a hand on his head and stroke those old war wounds. Agree with toning down the top rhs, but that probably isn't what this photo is about. Thanks for sharing it with us.
A very moving image. You're right about the eyes. Good suggestion above about the top rhs.
TFS,
Rachel
This image clarifies why we all love to create photographs. The strong emotion that this photo brings to me is strangely, beauty. The beauty of a long and adventurous life in the savanna of Africa. Just as beautiful as a photo of the new cub that will replace him. If only we could hear his stories.
One of the best wildlife images that I've seen in a long time.
Thank you for sharing.
Robin
Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I could not stay long the first time we saw him-the whole family was upset. I saw him again 2 days later-about 50 m from where we found him the first time. That night we heard the hayenas and a terrible noise-that was the end. We found the resident pride the following day-with 3 new cubs-nature was healing the wound.
Ben
A very moving image.
TFS
If the background to this image had not been elaborated on then I wonder what the comments would have been?
Ears not visible, not sufficiently sharp, over exposed back ground, more space required at the top, less fore ground please.Originally Posted by Ken Watkins
Ben
A strong image indeed!
The scares on the face tell many stories of how difficult it is even for this "king".
Just wish you could get him looking at you - that could have been amazing IMHO.
Tight closeup good option here for a powerful presentation. I would suggest a vignette to see how that looks.
I do not know how others look at these posts but when an image like this one captures my attention I always study the photo first, then read what the poster has to say. A great image should say ".....a thousand words". Maybe I'm old school.... but that's the way I do it.
I also thought that the bright light in the right hand corner represents the last light of life still hanging on and if it were mine I would keep it as is.
Robin
he looks pretty down and out to me...I think this would have been evocative even without the story as the eyes really tell it all here...nice one Ben!
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