Asking for Permission

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 26, 2013231 views9 comments

Continuing my lion-kill series. The whole story with sequential photos can be found here: http://bit.ly/LionKill

After the male forcefully took over the kill from the females, one of them came back to respectfully ask if she could join him. I love how this could be such a tender moment amid such a gruesome but essential part of African life. The eland was not dead yet at this point. I will never forget this morning.

I processed this in line with the cloud of white dust that was still lingering from the chase, coupled with slightly overcast early morning light.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f5.6 | 1/640 SS | ISO-2000
EV +0.3

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on April 26, 2013 at 1:35 AM

Amazing! Check out the blog link... a set of fantastic images. I especially like the lioness spying between the legs of the prey. DOF is perfect! A grand drama of life and death shown in those shots. Your narrative adds some needed fill. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on April 26, 2013 at 3:22 AM

Another great shot from your series. The male looks almost playful rather than intimidating and the female sure doesn't look as though she needs any more to eat.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 26, 2013 at 4:37 AM

Thanks guys...

Martin - many eland were weakened and dying of thirst and hunger in this area (too many moved down here with too little nourishment in the waterholes and not enough grass) so the lions were having a ball. This pride killed 4 times in 3 days when I was there. There were about 30-40 eland carcasses strewn around the Nossob riverbed in a stretch of 30km.

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on April 26, 2013 at 6:04 AM

A superb series of images Morkel and good storytelling via the content.

Did you up the midtones slightly on this one?

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on April 27, 2013 at 7:19 AM

This is such a lovely moment, Morkel! She is literally pleading with him to share his (actually her!) kill, and his looks are priceless!

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

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on April 28, 2013 at 9:58 AM

Well done again.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on April 28, 2013 at 2:01 PM

Excellent behavioral image Morkel that fits very well in you great series. I envy you for witnessing this; I was in the park a month after the killing spree...

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Clinch on May 4, 2013 at 10:52 AM

Excellent capture of a potentially violent moment. The details make this for me; the lioness' lifted paw, the lion's claws on the belly and the eland's rear hooves still tensely raised. Very impressive.

Registered on January 5, 2013, 37 Posts, 261 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 17, 2013 at 6:39 PM

Thanks guys...headed back there soon!

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