Tough Lion Love

[Grant Atkinson]

Canon 7D, canon300 f/2.8is, handheld. 1/250 at f/4.0, iso 400. No cropping. Removed small OOF leave on lionesses shoulder. Processed in ACR6 and CS5. Location Zarafa Botswana. December 2009. Late morning, overcast. I already have a fair number of wider view lion mating pics, decided to go tight with this one to emphasize the interaction, and avoid the long grass. Would have liked to have included all of males ear, and sharpness of image somewhat limited by dof at that close range.
All C and C welcome
Cheers
Grant

www.grantatkinson.com

[Grant Atkinson]

I am suddenly not sure if I posted this before, if I did I apologize for that,
cheers
Grant

[Steve Kaluski]

Certainly the tight in shot conveys the moment and power here Grant, I would not like to be on the receiving end of those teeth. I also like the curled, snarling muzzle and the one eye of the lioness showing, as she turns her head. Was this a domestic our courting moment?

I do think the 7D does give a 'sooty' image, as the blacks look quite strong and the file doesn't ever look clean, if you know what I mean, guess there is a big difference with the MKIV now.

Nice one.

TFS
Steve

[Ken Watkins]

Much to tight for my tate the "missing" expression of the female is IMHO, vital to this type of image.

[Harshad Barve]

Sorry Grant , this does not work for me , Too tight
TFS

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi all, thanks for the comments. It is always interesting to see what others think. Steve, this was at the very end of this particular mating bout, the male was about to dismount.
It would have been nice to be able to pull back a little but the fixed lens doesnt allow that luxury.
Thanks for looking
cheers
Grant

[Morkel Erasmus]

Grant I kind of like this perspective, although I wish there was a bit more of the female's head visible on the RHS.

I will have to get used to these kinds of perspectives with this lens hehe :)

[Dumay de Boulle]

Very nice detail and its great you can see the eye of the female...Something different...Very nice Grant

[Hilary Hann]

Steve, interesting comment on the 'sooty' nature of some of the 7D images. I have noticed something similar with mine but wasn't sure how to express what it was that I didn't like.

Grant, not wanting to be contrary here, but I really like the composition you've used in this image. I agree that keeping the male's ear in would have been a plus, but I really like the small amount of the lioness's aggressive looking face … the imagination does the rest. I love the curve of the lion's mouth around the lioness's ear, there is that anticipation of the snap closed which never happens and there is a really nice, strong diagonal line working through the image. In fact, there are 2 very strong diagonal lines working here.
Are they ticks on the shoulder of the lioness?

Nice to see a very close up detail, much as I love environmental portraits.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Hilary, glad you liked it, and contrary is fine, like I wrote, I just wanted to try a different shot, and Steve K's recent hippo post actually reminded me of this shot, with the strong shape to the open mouth being the common factor..
The lioness had dried mud on her shoulder. Dumay, glad you liked it. Morkel, yes I am waiting to see your first post with the fixed lens, see how you deal with suddenly being too close
thanks for taking the time to look and comment
cheers
Grant

[Steve Kaluski]

I am waiting to see your first post with the fixed lens, see how you deal with suddenly being too close

Perhaps guys you should have waited and invested in the new 200-400 with the 1.4 'bolted-in'.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

I like the tight composition and also like both sharp lions. The female head angle and open eye is also great TFS

[RakeshDhareshwar]

I somehow like this crop . Maybe if the lioness was included a bit more to show the mouth , it could be better . But some great experimentation .......nearly works

[Grant Atkinson]

Thanks Vivaldo and Rakesh, your comments appreciated.
cheers
Grant

[Steve Canuel]

The tight crop works for me due to the strong line of the males muzzle, the prominent canines, and the eye of the female. What impressive teeth :eek:

[Grant Atkinson]

Thanks for commenting Steve..

[Arthur Morris]

I too like the tight crop and those loving teeth. I would actually suggest a slightly tighter crop with an "inch" off the bottom and a "half inch" off the right side to lose the dark part of the female's nose/snout (?) as it does draw the eye. Like you I miss having all of the male's ear in the frame. EXP and SH right-on.

[Grant Atkinson]

Thanks Artie for the crop suggestion..much appreciated
cheers
Grant