Kalahari Brute

[Morkel Erasmus]

I keep digging up lion shots...

This black-maned Kalahari male had a full tummy, but a nasty thirst. We had been sitting at a waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park waiting for one of the pride to get up from the distant tree they were lying under and come slake their thirst. I turned out to be the big kahuna.

This image was taken in the early stages of late afternoon light, as you can see from the shadow, yet in the Kalahari it sometimes still looks harsh at this time of day.

Techs:
Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
f7.1 @ 1/2000 SS @ ISO-400
about 60% of the original image, cropped to taste.

[Rachel Hollander]

Morkel - I like the comp. and the color looks great. He looks a little skinny from this angle, must be both hungry and thirsty?

TFS,
Rachel

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Rachel - no he had quite a full tummy, they must have fed during the night. If you look closely you can see it bulging in front of the hind rump - the angle is just peculiar here :)

In general though, Kalahari lions are skinnier than most because of the distances they have to cover in search of prey, and the availability of prey in the dry season. They are much "leaner and fitter" than lions in other "wetter" areas.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks for the info on the Kalahari lions. I haven't been there (yet).

Rachel

[Hilary Hann]

My first reaction was to give a bit more room at the top, but I think because the lion is looking slightly downwards, it works quite well. Love the beautiful tones you've shown in this image and the windswept look of the lion.

One question … there appears to be an oof light coloured elongated patch on the lion's front right paw and wondered if you knew what it was. Perhaps a trick of the light?

A lovely weatherbeated face.

[Per-Gunnar Ostby]

The light does seem a little harsh for that time of the day, and the angle does make him seem a little scrawny, but I really like the framing and the great angular look.

Very nice indeed

I keep meaning to go to the Kgalagadi but haven't yet. Hopefully next time I'm in RSA

[Vivaldo Damilano]

A lovely image, good idea to wait at the waterhole as eventually they will go for a drink. I like the head angle and look good TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel, I like the 'windswept' look of the Lion, is this in the same region as Peter D took his? There is some nice detain in the face & mane, but can't help feel the expression is of sadness on his face. I might not have noticed the white blemish Hilary has spot, so curious to what it is? :2 Personally would have preferred a 3x2 format with more above and less to the LHS, but as you say, 'cropped to taste'.

Nice to see the variety of habitats these animals live in.

TFS
Steve

[Ken Watkins]

Beautiful looking Lion, the angle makes it look very different.

Pixel peeping the "OOF" patch it seems to be OOF grass but none on ground?

I do not think whatever it is detracts from the overall charm of the image.

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Morkel, the windswept curves make this image for me, as does the angle which serves to emphasize how deep and long the lions head is, from nose to chin. Techs look pretty good to me
TFS
Grant

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for the feedback everyone

regarding the OOF white line - that must have been a blade of dry grass somewhere next to the road between my vehicle and the lion (who was quite a distance across the plain).

this is some distance (must be nearly 1000km as the crow flies) Southeast from Etosha where Peter Delaney's "Windswept lions" were photographed.

[Marc Mol]

Love the lighting and windswept mane here Morkel, with just the right amount of USM masking on the face.
TFS

[Steve Canuel]

He's a nice lean looking specimen Morkel and I like the angle of the head into the wind and how it's inside the body profile. Any known reason for the darker manes of the Kalahari lions (subspecies?)

[Stephen Earle]

Nice image Morkel for the reasons mentioned. The only improvement I see would have been a slightly lower angle.