Backlit Lion

[Dumay de Boulle]

Canon 7D
Canon 100-400 L IS @ 300mm
AV f7.1
TV 1/400
ISO 800
Exp +0.33
Subject Distance 44.4m
AWB
Evaluative Metering
RAW file Processed in CS5 iMac

This is a Male of a coalition of two..There territory is the centre of the Pilanesburg...They are about 10 years old and well past there prime, but no challengers for there throne as yet. The black spots on the face are flies. Tried to work against the light here and see what the result would be.

Thanks for viewing and commenting

[Ken Watkins]

Have you lightened the Lion a lot if you have I think this may have worked you a little in eliminating the rim light. It certainly looks to me that it should be a little darker.

Flies do not worry me at all totally natural.

[Stu Bowie]

Good walking pose mate, and this guy certainly looks like he got on in the years. I like the sharp detail on the head and mane. Is it worth coming up for a visit yet, especially the hide?

[Dumay de Boulle]

I think you are spot on Ken...I look at it now and it does look very light...Not sure why I didn't notice it earlier... thanks!

Hey Stu, hope things are going well and I hope to bump into you at Pilanesburg soon

[Ken Watkins]

Dumay,

The repost is much better, I can hardly ever get my posts to look the same here as on my master file.

[Hilary Hann]

Dumay, like the repost. Nice walking pose of a venerable old lion. The flies add greatly to the whole look of an animal past his prime, as does the slightly droopy look of his lower lips which is probably coincidental but adds to the imagery.

Why have these two not been challenged yet? Are there a lack of up and coming young males or are there other factors involved here?

[Harshad Barve]

wow , looks like a awesome male , excellent pose , flies and light here
TFS

[Steve Canuel]

Like the angle of the lion and the view of those big paws. The tiny pupils go well with all those flies on the face.

[Dumay de Boulle]

Thanks folks....Hillary. there were two other younger males who were keeping these guys on the move trying to avoid the conflict. Midway through last year, one of the other younger males jaw was broken. Some think by a black Rhino they were seen feeding on after that.,But his health deteriorated and eventually the ( Through pressure from the public) the decision was taken to destroy him. These younger guys would probably have taken over from them sooner or later. But now that the other one is on his own and the last time I saw him his condition had also deteriorated...So the tables have turned. These two now pursue him constantly......We have a coalition of 4 young males on the eastern part of the reserve who move occasionally into these guys territory, 3 are aprox 3 &1/2 years old and have joined with a beautiful Male named Mysteries Son which is about 5....So things should become interesting in the next 6 months

[Hilary Hann]

Thanks Dumay, that is very interesting.

[Marc Mol]

The repost certainly looks better Dumay, loads of character here in this old warrior, nicely depicted.
TFS

[Morkel Erasmus]

nice to get some background on the Pilanesberg lion movements Dumay

I like this shot, especially the repost (feel you could actually darken it a tad more up front), and the flies on his face give him character, while the light creates a nice mood

have you considered taking some off the top?

[Steven Kersting]

Nice pic, and rather good for working against the light.

Still feels a little flat to me....could probably use a levels/contrast adjustment.

[Rachel Hollander]

Dumay - I like the repost better and the background story is interesting. I like the mid-stride pose and the flies add character. Those are some huge paws too.

TFS,
Rachel