Concentration

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 24, 2011250 views9 comments

We sat with a group of 3 lions while they were lying about under a tree. As soon as the sun set, they started to move and one by one set off in search of a meal. They walked straight towards our vehicle and I had to drop the 500mm and shoot with the 7D, 70-200mm as the light was really low. I like this image as it looks almost unreal and artistic. The soft expression of the lion belies what they will get up to during the dark hours to come.

1/500
F/2.8
ISO 800

Your comments are valued. Thank you.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Cam Held on December 24, 2011 at 1:01 PM

Beautiful! I agree that the soft expression seems unusual. The shallow DOF works well I think. Great shot, no nits from me!
-Cam

Registered on November 12, 2009, 59 Posts, 398 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 24, 2011 at 2:26 PM

I like it too, and agree it has a sense of surreal moodiness. I think it might present even better cropped tighter for portrait, taking some off the left and bottom.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 24, 2011 at 4:05 PM

Hello Neal

Very pleasant soft mood with underlying sense of foreboding!

Thanks for sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 24, 2011 at 5:15 PM

Wonderful portrait Neal. The sharpness of the eyes makes them standout amidst the dreamy soft foreground, background. Beautiful soulful expression on the lion. Wouldn't change a thing.

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

Comment posted by Carol Nichols on December 25, 2011 at 6:45 PM

A beautiful portraint Neal. I like all the wispiness captured in the fur and almost replicated in the background brush. I am also thinking that maybe a little should be cropped off the bottom if you have not experimented with that already.

Registered on November 7, 2007, 161 Posts, 1420 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 26, 2011 at 7:47 AM

A beautiful portrait of a lion. One of the best I've seen here. I might crop just a bit from the bottom but that would be all.

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

Comment posted by Philip Haffley on December 26, 2011 at 10:40 AM

I like the soft focus of the surroundings and the low contrast. Great work.

Registered on August 10, 2008, 265 Posts, 317 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 28, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Love it as posted Neal. This one really has an artistic feel. Love it!

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

Comment posted by Joe James on December 29, 2011 at 9:12 PM

Beautifully done Neal! Great composition and nice intimate feel to it.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments