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Thread: I am checking!!!

  1. #1
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    Default I am checking!!!

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    This is one of my favourite images from my recent trip to the Kgalagadi TP. I was lucky with the light and these four lions followed about an hour behind the rest of the pride. This female was one of the largest I have seen in the KTP. The other lions looked on as they drank, then she moved off,about 10m from the rest of the pride and they did not move or acknowledge her at all until she had layed down in the shade of a camelthorn tree. While drinking I was able to take this image of the lions drinking and I was able to achieve good eye contact with all there tongues sticking out. Comments and critiques welcome. Sorry for adding another lion image, but the brown hyenas will soon come.
    Camera details:
    Nikon D3s
    Nikon 600mm f4 VR
    Manual mode
    Auto ISO 1000
    Aperture f8
    Shutter speed 1/1250
    Image processed in ACR and CS5 on a 15"MBP.


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    Mark, I'd be very happy with all those nicely lit eyes and to have all 4 tongues out as well! The lion on the right looks like it needs a good feed. Look forward to seeing the brown hyaenas.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Mark - this is my favorite of your recent lion posts. Nice light, color, eye contact and having all the tongues out is just great. Well done.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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  6. #4
    Ken Watkins
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    Mark,

    Wonderful moment, I have never seen Lions doing this nearby, so I am extremely jealous

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    Hey Mark
    I was waiting for this, Wow I am also so so green Great image Mark, love all those open eyes and tight crop works very nicely. I look foward to the Brown hyena pictures.

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Simply great. Great angle of light and camera relationship to light and subject. All four with tongues in water. No problem that left one is looking across, at least eye is not closed. Perfect crop I'd say. Love ie, much more than "yet another lion/leopard portrait".
    Tom

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    The light hits their eyes just right. Great to have them all drinking and looking up and with tongues out, low angle is excellent. Polentswa?
    Pity about the OOF rocks in front but that's what you get at the Kgalagadi waterholes......
    one more month then I'm back there!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Hi all,
    Thanks to Morkel,Tom, Vivaldo,Ken, Rachel and Hilary for taking the time to comment. Thank you for your comments, they are gratefully appreciated.
    To Morkel, I think the eye contact and the tongues in unison is enough action to draw the eye away from the rocks in the foreground. The waterhole at Polentswa was broken and Brent has changed it to a new location. I am sure you will be pleased when you see the runoff will lead to a more natural image with animals drinking from the fresh water that they prefer from the excess water that flows from the tanks.
    Best wishes,
    Mark.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Wiseman View Post
    To Morkel, I think the eye contact and the tongues in unison is enough action to draw the eye away from the rocks in the foreground.
    Mark.
    I fully agree. My comment was intended in the spirit of: "If there's anything I would change in a perfect world and having the chance to photograph this again"
    Interesting notes on the waterhole as I've never camped at Polentswa and only know the "old" waterhole from parking there late in the morning after coming from Nossob.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Just great to have (almost) all four with eye contact and tongues showing Mark, as I know how difficult that can be! Superb lighting and low perspective only enhances this lovely quartet.
    TFS

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Graham View Post
    . Love ie, much more than "yet another lion/leopard portrait".
    Tom
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 01-23-2012 at 06:12 PM.


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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Very nice moment captured very well.
    Tongues and eye contact. very nice.
    Dan Kearl

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    Hi Mark,
    Brilliant image with eye contact and tongue out.
    VPN

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    Lovely image, crop works well, lovely detail and as mentioned the eyes make the image for me. It may just be me but the blacks look a little flat?

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  25. #14
    Ofer Levy
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    Another winner image from you Mark! Wildlife photography as it should be IMHO without gimmiks or nonesense! Bravo!!!
    Last edited by Ofer Levy; 01-24-2012 at 04:04 AM.

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    Ken Watkins
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ofer Levy View Post
    Another winner image from you Mark! Wildlife photography as it should be IMHO without gimmiks or nonesense! Bravo!!!
    plus one from me

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    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    Wonderful to have this group together and well captured with eye contact and lapping tongues. Light and exposure is great. Well done Mark.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Mark, I like the image, but if you are putting this forward I would look at the the eyes of each animal again. The eyes have clearly been opened up to the same degree and depth and do not look natural. There are no shadows, variety of tones and depths of colours in there. It's things like that they will pick up on.

    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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  33. #18
    Ken Watkins
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    Mark,

    I would be most interested to hear what you have to say about Steve's comment, I have pixel peeped and can see shadows in most of the eyes and they certainly do not have the same colour in each Lion, nor do I see how you could glean this from a low resolution JPEG.

    I am mystified, I do hope you can resolve this.Could you let us know did you open up the eyes and if so how did you do it?

    Cheers

    Ken

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    Hi Steve and Ken,
    Ken you are correct. Steve, I have done nothing to the eyes and shadows. I processed this image following my normal workflow and have done no individual processing to either the lioness or the three cubs. As you see this image, is as I saw it in the bush. I processed the whole image and feel the image needs nothing more than that. Thanks for the comments and the help which is gratefully appreciated. I will attempt to do an image over the weekend, but my abdo is still sore following the laparoscopic surgery and I have been too active as it is following the surgery.
    Best wishes,
    Mark.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Fine Mark, sometimes you have to question things as per Vivaldos posting. If I had not question that image which no one had picked up on, the result would have been totally different and we would have missed out on an excellent repost.

    Thanks hope you get better.
    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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  38. #21
    Ken Watkins
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    Mark,

    Thanks for your explanation, I thought this would probably be the case

    Get well soon.

    Cheers

    Ken

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    What a sight , hands on winner here
    TFS

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