Graphic Dragging a Kill

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 4, 2011394 views11 comments

Another thrill from my just completed Tanzania tour. We came across a pair of lions as they just took down this wildebeest. They fed a bit and then this female dragged it about 100 yards without any help from her sister. Needless to say filled the Mark 3 buffers a few times.
Canon 1D Mark 3 and the 100-400mm lens at ISO 800 at f/7.1 for 1/320 sec hand held and 90% full frame.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on September 4, 2011 at 3:13 PM

Hi Roman, I really like this, as it really portrays the 'life & death' struggle in the bush. Although an image some might deem as 'graphic' it is LIFE. IMHO a good angle for both subjects and the stance illustrates how tough it must be for the lioness to move with the Wildebeest away from prying eyes and of course, vultures & other scavengers. The mass of flies on the lionesses head adds to the image.

In respect to the image, it is one of the better images I have seen recently portraying this subject.

Curious, but have you lightened the eyes and was this shot early in the morning, just trying to gauge by the colour of the image.

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 4, 2011 at 3:21 PM

Certainly portrayed very well Roman...framing/composition is nice and the pose is perfect. The eyes certainly have some pop (referring to Steve's query)...

Will be graphic for some...but I like...

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

Comment posted by Roman Kurywczak on September 4, 2011 at 3:30 PM

You guys are good! This was very early in the morning but I did lighten them....but only a few points in levels. They are bright on my tiff.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 56 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 4, 2011 at 5:05 PM

Lioness and lunch make for a nicely balanced composition. Yes, graphic and real, in a way that most will appreciate seeing, but I bet not as many would hang it over their dining room table.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on September 4, 2011 at 7:37 PM

Excellent framing and I love the flies on her face. I agree I wouldn't hang it over my dining room table but still a very good depiction of the life of a lion. The reds have so much pop they make the greens look washed out. I guess that the early morning light.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on September 4, 2011 at 9:41 PM

Very good comp Roman, the subjects form an "L". Trance like expression on the lioness is powerful. I'm just not too sure what to make of the tones here, the grass seems a little bit flat. Perhaps the image is just a bit overexposed? Wonderful photo.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffry Oonk on September 5, 2011 at 9:21 AM

Great capture Roman,
One can see how hard the lion has to work carrying the carcass.
But I agree with others that the frame looks a little over-exposed / flat.

Thx for posting
Jef

Registered on February 5, 2011, 21 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on September 5, 2011 at 2:26 PM

Very excellent shot. All those flies on my face would drive me crazy. Viewing this shot on my monitor it seems to me like it could be warmed up a little bit and a touch of contrast added.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on September 5, 2011 at 4:41 PM

Nice composition on this one Roman.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 5, 2011 at 6:32 PM

Super action here and I like your comp Roman, the colors look a bit off to me.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on September 11, 2011 at 7:51 AM

Very dramatic image! Really tells a story.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments