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Kwara Lion
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Kwara Lion

by Ken Watkins

Gallery: WildlifePosted May 7, 201399 views6 comments
This is one of the so called "Magnificent 7" that live in the Kwara reservation in Botswana.

We found three of them one dark and rainy morning and were able to get in front of them, taken from open vehicle, hand-held

EOS 1DX
500mm F4 MkII
F8
ISO 800
1/1000

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Claude Dagenais on May 7, 2013 at 7:04 AM
This shot tells me why you take so many shots from the vehicle Ken. Nice capture showing the power and self assurance exuded by this fellow. :toast:
Registered on April 10, 2013, 56 Posts, 571 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on May 7, 2013 at 8:47 PM
Excellent frontal view and low perspective. The hint of a trail in the grass also leads the eye to the lion. I am picking up a "slight" green color bias in the lion's coat, likely from reflections off the grass (unless you boosted the green to enhance the grass color?)
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on May 7, 2013 at 11:07 PM
I would agree about the green cast on this, Ken. Maybe, warming it a bit ought to not only correct this, but also restore the lion's 'truer' colors?
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 8, 2013 at 2:12 AM
Thanks for your comments.
Regarding the "green" I have had this observation raised many times, I think it is all down to the belief that the media spread that Africa is both hot and dry. This is certainly not the case in many areas, even stark and barren areas like Etosha take on a very intense green colour from November onwards.
The Christmas/ New Year period is marketed as the "Green Season" in Botswana and it certainly is green and also can be very wet, my friends 7D can testify to that. :biggrin:
As to getting out of the vehicle to take shots of Lions I would not recommend it, but not for the obvious reason, usually Lions will run away when they see humans on the ground :smile:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 8, 2013 at 8:08 AM
I like this quite a lot Ken with that all green BG, the low angle, that facial expression, but most of all (as Gary also indicated) that hint of a trail in the grass. Your explanation of Botswana being really green in the wet season is 100% correct, yet I do agree that the image has a faint green cast on the lion. This is easily corrected with the selective color tool. (I did this in the attached repost, hope you don't mind) :wink:
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 8, 2013 at 10:35 AM
Vincent,

Thanks for the repost, the differences are to my eyes quite subtle, perhaps it is my monitor.
Any suggestions are always welcome, did you just lighten the green, or did you reduce the yellow in the green as well?Cheers

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