The Hunting Party

Awesome image! I think you handled the exposure nicely for shooting straight into the sun.

Hey Vincent,

Great scene to view and with significant challenges to any photographer (which you handled very well). I really like how you captured this at a slight "offset" from the line and you can see all three cats despite them being in close to a straight line relative to one another). Gary - notice the horizon position!

You know, it's funny - there ARE scenes that exceed the dynamic range of even our eyes so we SHOULD be willing to accept that in a photograph (if our goal is to replicate the beauty and reality of nature). But that being said, the highlights here DID grab my attention and pull my eyes in that direction (before going to the subjects). Could be that's JUST because I'm a photographer (like almost everyone viewing this image on this site) and notice such things - have you shown this to any non-photographers and got reactions from them? I would be most interested if you have (I'm always wondering how the general public views images and how different it can be from those darned nit-picking photographers...who usually don't buy our images anyway! ).

Cheers...

Brad

Hey Brad, you have some good points (as always). Not sure how non-photographers look at this; it is not an image I would select to sell as a print (unless on request), but it did sell for a magazine. But of course graphic designers and editors look at images different again than photographers do.

This is an interesting image. I can feel the bright sunrise of the early dawn. But the very bright light does draw me away from the loins.

I'm impressed that you were able to capture this action with a 70-200 @70, they were right there! The perspective is very effective, I get a real sense of the tension and stillness in the air as they make their way together. I like the bright area in the ulc where the sun is peaking over the horizon, adds to the ambiance. Cinematographers often seem to point their cameras into the blazing sun for that gritty realism effect. Thinking of all those westerns and Out of Africa type films. Why can't still photographers do it?

There is a small vertical branch that reaches through the green clump of trees on the urc that is a bit messy and for some odd reason bothers me; I might clone it as it is so small - but significant, to me anyway.

The horizon? Hmmmm, well not in the middle. Looks great as is.

The things you want to photograph don't always happen when the light is perfect. But that shouldn't stop us capturing the moment.
The tension in these hunting lionesses is palpable and the low perspective crates a nice sense of involvement.
I do find I have to make an effort to stop my eyes being drawn to the very bright sun but am impressed that you've managed to retain enough light on your lionesses without letting the sun totally dominate the shot.