Golden Stalker

Gallery: WildlifePosted September 17, 2013255 views16 comments

With golden eye and golden fur,
he struts his stuff and shows his might...
all of this in golden light...

A young male lion approaches with keen interest.
I am off to the Masai Mara for a while - see you on the flipside!

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f5.6 | 1/320 SS | ISO-720
EV +0.3

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by David Sewell on September 17, 2013 at 5:18 PM

The low angle lifts this out of the ordinary for me. Great work.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by James Blue on September 17, 2013 at 7:08 PM

Morkel, that's some very sweet light and angle on that young gun.

Jim

Registered on June 16, 2013, 16 Posts, 144 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on September 17, 2013 at 9:38 PM

Lighting to die for! But, for me, there's too much oof foreground, Morkel. If this were mine, I'd crop out a cm or so off the bottom. But, where are you staying in the Mara? I will be in Keekorok from Sept 20th to 25th! Would be wonderful if we could meet up somewhere!

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on September 17, 2013 at 11:24 PM

Those eyes are really lit up by the warm frontal lighting, nicely done. I assume you are in the underground bunker? Is this near a watering hole as the attraction to this area? I like the low perspective a lot, but I agree with Ajit's idea to take a little off the bottom.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Thanks guys.
Ajit - will send you an email, will be in the Wild Eye mobile camp in the Mara Triangle! Re the OOF FG, I kind of like it as is because it shows how low I was?

Gary - not the bunker this time...lying on my belly next to the vehicle (this was around our "campsite" close to the waterhole).

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on September 18, 2013 at 3:21 AM

Lovely light, great perspective. They eyes really grab.
I'l split the difference on the OOF foreground - maybe 5mm.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on September 18, 2013 at 7:22 AM

Great light, low POV and the body language of lion, makes it a stunner !
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 18, 2013 at 10:46 AM

Wonderful glowing gold...you can't ask for better. The low point of view and eye contact are excellent as well. Personally, I would reduce the amount of the foreground oof area, but that is purely subjective and depends on how and where the image will be shared.

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on September 18, 2013 at 12:10 PM

Have fun in the Mara, Morkel. I know it's basically cliched at this point, but if you get one of those cheetahs on your vehicle I'll be jealous.

Great light and love the low angle here.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on September 18, 2013 at 10:07 PM

Beautiful shot Morkel, The composition and lightning couldn't be better, and I love the low POV. I'm glad you were safe (i imagine) when you took this photo, and it's interesting to me to imagine seeing those eyes with no retreat to safety!

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 19, 2013 at 11:18 AM

Great light, strong pose and super angle Morkel. A bit tighter vertical presentation would have suited this much better though IMO.

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

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on September 19, 2013 at 10:45 PM

This is a stunner. The light and colors are wonderful and the eye contact is riveting.

So intimidating, I feel safer viewing this on the laptop.

I too would be tempted to crop a wee bit from the bottom.

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on September 22, 2013 at 9:10 PM

Great light, great angle and very nice comp....kudos all the way around Morkel!

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

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on September 25, 2013 at 2:14 PM

Beautiful pose, POV, eye contact and light...great shot!

Grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on September 29, 2013 at 10:44 AM

Thanks for your comments, folks!!

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 2, 2013 at 3:06 AM

Morkel,
Marvelous

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