I wanna play...

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 26, 2011184 views18 comments

...you too?

Lion cub in the Masai Mara. ...It was a very dark day, heavy clouds and the day was heading for sunset - no beautiful warm light, but the bonus was that there were nog hard shadows either...and passing time observing lion cubs makes up for anything...

Nikon D300
Nikkor AF/S VR 300 mm f/2,8
f/8,0
1/160
400 ISO

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 26, 2011 at 2:18 PM

Wonderful face and intent eyes here! Not sure she is asking to play - looks to me as if she is contemplating lunch !

If you were able to darken the similar BG a bit, it would improve this nice shot further IMO.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Fabio Giarrizzo on March 26, 2011 at 3:16 PM

Great portrait- I'd leave the background as is, IMO it is perfectly blended with the subject and enhances the strong eye contact- thanks for sharing, Fabio

Registered on December 3, 2010, 90 Posts, 1614 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 26, 2011 at 9:17 PM

Nice capture. Excellent expression. I like Sandy's idea of trying to increase the tonal difference with the BG.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on March 27, 2011 at 1:46 AM

Beautiful expression! I, too, would vote with Sandy on darkening the bg a bit.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on March 27, 2011 at 2:23 AM

Really nice cub, the eyes are incredibly well captured, can I ask why your copyright has moved up to eye level in the larger version, it really is a spoiler, but I can ignore it.
I am not sure about the BG, but I think that toning it down a bit would be an improvement. Cubs are generally so much more interesting to watch and take an image of.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on March 27, 2011 at 5:53 AM

Thanks for your comments all - I will try your suggestions and maybe upload again.

Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on March 27, 2011 at 10:11 AM

Ingrid,

What a wonderful inquisitive look from the cub. I like the shot and feel you did a great job in spite of the lighting deficiency.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 27, 2011 at 11:49 AM

A very cute and engaging expression & the BG works nicely IMHO. Although not a lover of square formats, the subject lends itself nicely to it. I prefer the tonal colours in the smaller version as the larger one seems a little to warm/orange, personally I might just drop the red & yellow a fraction in Saturation perhaps? Would also agree in moving the text on the larger version so we can enjoy the image more.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on March 27, 2011 at 1:53 PM

I have now darkened the BG a bit - is this better? Thanks all for your comments and advice!

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 27, 2011 at 2:59 PM

Hi Ingrid, personally I prefer the OP.

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 27, 2011 at 6:16 PM

loving the eyes here Ingrid...I too prefer the original post as the repost is just too yellow for my tastes...even the OP could use a bit of desaturation in the yellow channel IMHO

very nice pose here! diffused light helped a lot with extracting detail from the cub

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 27, 2011 at 6:34 PM

I really like the look on the face and in the eyes of the lion. The color in this image really shows how they blend into their environment.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on March 27, 2011 at 7:15 PM

Might have been looking to play, but would be a ruff and tumble affair I bet.
This is unique, that crouched body and those great eyes are a real winner here, Ingrid. Love it.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on March 28, 2011 at 11:36 AM

Nice shot Ingrid, love the look in his eyes.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 28, 2011 at 11:58 AM

Very nice. I agree with the intent of tweaking the background, but prefer the original as posted because the saturation feels more natural. Detail looks best in the larger posting!

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

Comment posted by Darren Colello on March 28, 2011 at 1:58 PM

Very engaging image Ingrid. Wonderful detail. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on March 28, 2011 at 11:14 PM

What an adorable pose Ingrid :^) I always find that the eyes of Lions have the most intensity of all big cats, and while this youngster's are far from the menacing look one expects of a fully grown Lion, they already have that mesmerising effect on me 8^. Thanks for sharing ;^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on April 4, 2011 at 3:33 AM

The great pose and expression on his face make the image for me ....

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