Angry lioness!

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 12, 2010672 views20 comments

Even if horror movies scare the @£$%^&* out of you, those experiences pale into insignificance when you face up to an angry lioness! Believe me! She must have thought that we were too close to her cubs for comfort, I guess. But, whatever reason she had, the message was loud and clear: get out of here! Which we did, pronto!
Location: Ndutu, Tanzania
Date: May, 2009
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 500 f4 with 1.4 TC
Specs: ISO 400, f9, 1/80s, beanbag on vehicle

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on May 12, 2010 at 1:58 PM

That is a scary face! The flies seem to add to the horror. Awesome shot!

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Vaudry on May 12, 2010 at 2:32 PM

I agree this is an awesome pic and excellent sharp detail.

Registered on March 5, 2010, 12 Posts, 53 Comments

Comment posted by Laura Stafford on May 12, 2010 at 4:03 PM

What an awesome shot of this lioness. The focus is sharp, and her expression says it all. She definitely got her message across.

Laura Stafford

Registered on November 3, 2009, 52 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on May 12, 2010 at 6:04 PM

Stunning detail, Ajit! This gave me a visceral reaction! DOF is perfect, imo. I love the pink tongure and purple flowers, the wrinkled nose and crisp reflections in both eyes! The flies are a special accent. I am curious about your decision making for the square crop. Also how much of a crop does this represent? Congratulations on a wonderful capture.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on May 12, 2010 at 7:05 PM

Wow, exceptional detail!!! Very well done Ajit.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on May 12, 2010 at 8:21 PM

Very intense Ajit!
Great detail all the way down to the saliva at the tip of her tongue. Those teeth really do say "Back Off" don't they?

Thanks for sharing this.
Neil

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 12, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Lon, nothing has been cropped from the top or the bottom, but only from the right side of the image, which had more flowers.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on May 12, 2010 at 11:33 PM

Ajit, I like it, the flies add a lot to the action in the image.

Registered on February 21, 2009, 83 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 13, 2010 at 12:10 PM

Ajit, you're a nut! I am not so sure I would have been anywhere near this close to a lioness with cubs! The flies make this even more terrifying. Nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 14, 2010 at 10:59 PM

Thanks guys for all the kind words. Regarding how close one can go, this decision is, unfortunately, taken by the driver/guide in most instances. I do know that tourists quite often goad their drivers to get closer and closer, and the driver obliges, hoping for a fatter tip. However, whenever I have gone on safaris, it is the driver who says how experienced he is, and knows how close he can go, etc, and I have just gone along with that decision. I know I can ask him not to get too close, but when he says, "Trust me", meaning I am just an 'outsider', and he knows best, I don't tend to argue. What would you do in such situations?

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on May 18, 2010 at 4:55 PM

Wonderful shot!

Congrats on the EP!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 18, 2010 at 6:41 PM

Wow - I would have been scared too! The juxtaposition between how frightening and REAL this is with the small flies that likely have no idea what they are crawling on is appealing to me... as is the addition of the OOF delicate purple flowers. Extremely well done and congrats on the EP

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on May 18, 2010 at 7:36 PM

Congratulations on the EP, Ajit. Well deserved!

We always ask for certain positioning and have been obliged at times and not at others. Ultimately, it's up to the driver/guide. Safety and well-being of the animals is paramount (as well as ours)! We've never had any problems with judgments made.

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Reed on May 18, 2010 at 9:14 PM

Wewph...that shot's gonna give me nightmares...

Registered on September 19, 2009, 198 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 18, 2010 at 10:02 PM

Awesome - congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on May 18, 2010 at 10:02 PM

Whoa! What a magnificent capture.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on May 18, 2010 at 11:37 PM

Heartiest Congratulations on the EP....brilliant image as usual...

Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 19, 2010 at 12:14 AM

Thank you, moderators, for picking this image for EP. This is my first for this year. Hope I can get more. And, thanks, guys for all the messages of congratulations. You don't know how happy this makes me - more happy than when my patients thank me for a kidney transplant surgery well done!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on May 19, 2010 at 10:10 AM

Amazing that you survived that look!

Excellent all over. Congratulations

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Andrei Malashenko on March 19, 2011 at 2:02 PM

What a look!!!!Outstanding capture! Timing is great and the sharpness and detaill of her coat is truly fantastic. I love it ! Well done,best regards, Andrei

Registered on March 18, 2011, 13 Posts, 68 Comments