Young Lion in Tree

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 18, 2014126 views10 comments

This was one of four sub-adults with their mum and what we presumed to be her sister. They were leaving the rest of the pride following the "takeover" by two new males, who generally like to kill all cubs from other males. I hope there escape works!
Taken in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
EOS 1D MkIV
200-400 mm F4 with 1.4 EX at 480mm
F6.3
ISO 800
1/2000

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on January 18, 2014 at 6:49 AM

very cool portrait Ken. Lovely pose, lovely composition.
I might play with the eyeys a wee bit to give them a bit more brightness and colour.

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

Comment posted by Randy Runtsch on January 18, 2014 at 8:10 AM

Hi Ken!

This image is spot on, in my opinion. What a great pose.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 50 Posts, 445 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 18, 2014 at 10:08 AM

Great portrait of this young lion. The greenery gives it a little something. Nice shot.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on January 18, 2014 at 2:14 PM

What happened to spots of this leopard ????

Unusual portrait of a lion that works well for me

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 18, 2014 at 11:15 PM

Hey Ken, nice use of the vertical here and the close crop showing the claws and great textures in the diagonal tree trunk take this way beyond just a documentary shot. I think that I might have tried to compose this, if possible, to eliminate the sliver of blue sky peeking between the limbs of the tree. I think this would simplify the image and would emphasize the lion more. I agree with Martin about the eyes, they could use a bit of a boost, perhaps even sharpened a bit more as well.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 19, 2014 at 12:39 AM

Thanks everybody for your comments, much appreciated.
I will take a look at theeyes

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 19, 2014 at 3:37 AM

The diagonals work very well here, may try to tone down the sky.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 19, 2014 at 10:27 AM

I really like the peek-a-boo pose, the greenery poking out, and the diagonal dynamic of the composition. It feels like the best focus is on the near tree trunk and the paw, rather than the eyes.