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Thread: Old Kings can still roar...(for Ofer)

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Old Kings can still roar...(for Ofer)

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    Ofer - this one's for you

    With the flurry of male lion portraits appearing on the forum I thought I'd throw one in too.

    We spent a glorious sunrise with this battered old male lion on the Madikwe plains in the Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa, last year. Although he looked a bit worse for wear, he was calling (roaring) out to his brother across the plains like he was still a young male in his prime.

    The morning mood just made the steam from his roars pop. I love the blunt teeth and the flying spittle. From what I can gather he is still alive...as long as he is united with his brother he remains alive and strong, but once the coalition breaks I fear he will have difficulty hunting alone and actually eating with those teeth.

    All critique most welcome!

    Techs:
    Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 180mm
    f5.0 @ 1/2500 SS @ ISO-400
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 07-03-2011 at 05:29 AM.
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  2. #2
    Ofer Levy
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    Now you're talking!!! I LOVE this!!! Just clone out the white hair...

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    Striking image indeed
    TFS

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    An image that doesn't need to be critiqued, just enjoyed. Thanks.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks folks!

    Quote Originally Posted by Ofer Levy View Post
    Just clone out the white hair...
    That's the spittle, a long piece of goblet flying from the roar :eek:
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  6. #6
    Ofer Levy
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Thanks folks!


    That's the spittle, a long piece of goblet flying from the roar :eek:
    Whatever it is I think it is better to get rid of it...

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    I know this lion very well... him and his brother ruled for a long time... surprised they survived so long .. especially when hunting season was upon them...

    agree with Ofer , the spittle adds little to image , if there was more of it maybe...

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    Very nice bud, love the textures and details. A fine image

  9. #9
    Sagar Gosavi
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    Morkel, that's a Brilliant capture ... Loved everything about it. That Heavenly light is adding to the beauty.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers,
    Sagar Gosavi

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Well, the hot (90F) sunny day here (southern California) drove me inside from doing house work. So have to play inside now until early evening and it cools off some
    Thinking original image a bit dark, especially in the mouth which is the primary point of interest(?).
    So Photoshop lightened it up (except for BG). That went too quickly so decided to make it into animated before and after GIF..
    Anyway, short of it is, here it is, -




    Tom
    Last edited by Tom Graham; 07-03-2011 at 03:10 PM. Reason: GIF problem - must use tree icon for image insert

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    IOTY Winner 2008 Chris van Rooyen's Avatar
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    Great story Morkel, and striking image as well Do you have one where there is more of the eye showing?

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for the feedback everyone.

    Tom - your repost is a tad too bright for my tastes, it makes it look like a shot in harsh light when in fact it was not 3 minutes after sunrise. I wanted to replicate that first-light dawn look.

    Chris - I have some with eye contact (the other side of his face was even more battered) but none where he's roaring at the same time as eyeballing me...
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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    The teeth tell you everything you need to know about this guy. Nice timing on the roar. Prefer the OP but seems the BG should be just a touch lighter based on the light hitting the lion's face.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, well I certainly prefer the OP, hands down, but sadly the previous two images posted have the edge on this one I'm afraid Morkel. When I saw this originally, a few days ago, I felt, and still do, that there is just not enough to separate the subject & BG and give the image depth and the power, plus, as the tones/hues are all quite close, everything kind of merges.

    However, I like the pose and you can feel the bellowing roar with the breathe and spittle.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    @ Steve C, I can understand how that will seem strange to you. To get a better idea of the fall of light here, check this image from a post I made in May 2010 after returning from this trip. The lion was literally catching the rays of the sun which had not fallen on the plains behind him yet.
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 07-03-2011 at 04:06 PM.
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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Hi Morkel, well I certainly prefer the OP, hands down, but sadly the previous two images posted have the edge on this one I'm afraid Morkel.
    All good Steve K......not that I stand a chance for IOTW anyway ...hehehe
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 07-03-2011 at 04:07 PM.
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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Steve I can understand how that will seem strange to you.
    Why would it be strange to me Morkel??????????

    Now you are talking Morkel, this has a real presence. Why post another 'me two' when you had this in the wings????
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  18. #18
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Why would it be strange to me Morkel??????????
    Sorry man, first response was for Steve Canuel

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Now you are talking Morkel, this has a real presence. Why post another 'me two' when you had this in the wings????
    Exactly!
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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    So I am Steve two now.

    Guess this gets to confusing at times.

    Cheers
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  20. #20
    Ofer Levy
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    Hi Morkel,
    Here is a repost to address the separation of the subject from the BG although I feel there is enough in the OP.
    Selectively applied levels and lens blur. WDYT?

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Thanks for the follow up post and explanation Morkel. Certainly looks accurate now. Shooting in the shade of the mountains so often I sometimes forget what its like to have the long shadows of a flatter horizon.

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    Forgive me if this is tangential to the OP image, but , Morkel's #15 reminds me. That, our eye-brain system sees a lot differently than the camera. Our eye-brain will integrate a scenes severe light levels, wild white balance, and focus/DOF into something that looks ok or even beautiful. A camera will record the same scene and and it will look strange, not real. They've been many articles on this, here's one from the luminous landscape site, Alain Briot - http://www.luminous-landscape.com/co...e-camera.shtml
    Tom

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    Lovely Morkel, great soft light and like the comp. I also prefer the OP but also like Ofer's version.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for the feedback gents...

    Ofer, nice repost...certainly would have been nice to get a lower angle and more separation in-camera here...
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    First guy needs some dental work but second image ( lion sitting with background) you posted is out of this world

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    The lighting/shading is just right here Morkel, he certainly is well past his prime with just pegs for teeth.
    Ans as you say Morkel, he's fortunate to have backup......for now.
    Ofer's BG repost is an improvement also.


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    Ditto on the repost. A super capture and detail Morkel! Love the moment. Well done!

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    I am a fan of Ofers repost Morkel although this is a mighty shot. Love the breath in the morning light and you can almost feel the moment.

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