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On the hunt
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On the hunt

by Stephen Kaluski

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 18, 2011109 views5 comments
Couldn't resist taking this shot as this lioness walked quietly by the jeep, her attention was fixed and focused on a pair of impala about 30m behind us. A little tight in frame, but...

Steve

Subject: Lioness on prowl, tight head shot (Panthera leo)
Location: Kwetsani, Botswana
Camera: Canon MKIII
Lens: 300f/2.8 - handheld
Exposure: 1/1000s at f/5.6 ISO100 0 stop compensation
Crop: FF (original capture vertical)

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on August 18, 2011 at 12:15 PM
I really like this image! Great detail in the fur, and I think that the flies on her face add a lot. I also really like how her colours match the background colours. It's too bad about how bright the white is near her whiskers, but it's still a great image!
Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 18, 2011 at 12:26 PM
I agree with Jenaya's assessment, and your's of too tight in the frame. The white whiskers could easily be tamed with some black, say about 10% more black added to the white. more canvas on the top and left is easily done.
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on August 18, 2011 at 1:23 PM
Great portrait in terrific light !

The whites under the nose do not look too hot to me. That area being marginally out of focus gives the impression that some details are lost. Given that you had ample light to work with, stopping down to f6.3/7.1 might have gotten the entire nose in focus. Its easy to nitpick in hindsight, not when a lioness in prime walks at you with intent. This is still a wall hangar and one to cherish and brag about :toast:
Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 18, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Always hard to resist a shot of a lioness, particularly when on the hunt and given the opportunity to get a close portrait, even if the light is harsh like this. The exposure is well controlled IMO and the whites are not blown. Sharpness is also excellent as is DOF. The tightness as well as the quality of the light do detract from my appreciation of this as a whole a bit I must admit.
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 19, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Agreed a little tight, but well done and compelling.
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments