Lions of Mara Reflected

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 11, 2014357 views13 comments

A Lioness and her three cubs quenching their thirst at a waterhole in fabulous morning light. I hoped for the four cats to align perfectly and look at the camera for eye contact but as you know this is often difficult. Plus it was a large pride with lots of young guys running around so the ones in this frame were often distracted.

EOS 1D Mark IV - EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM - 1/800 sec @ f6.3 - 265mm - ISO 100

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on April 11, 2014 at 2:20 PM

Mario: this is a fabulous image. It has all the requisites - light, subject and composition. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 11, 2014 at 3:46 PM

Super job.

"Fabulous morning light" may be an understatement. As much as I might long for a bit more detail in the shadow areas, I wouldn't do a thing to alter the effect this lighting is giving you. Besides, three out of four looking in your relative direction is pretty darn good

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 12, 2014 at 8:50 PM

The colors are dramatic and beautiful. I like the eye contact of the three and your goal of all four will keep you going back for more! My only suggestion is the have a little more space on top, where it feels slightly crowded to me.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on April 12, 2014 at 11:19 PM

Beautiful capture Mario!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 13, 2014 at 12:02 AM

Hi Mario,

No disagreements with any of the positive comments mentioned above - lots to like in this shot. But - I like it even MORE when it's levelled!

It needs almost a 3 degree CCW rotation and to me its off-level nature really sticks out. To level this one you can't use the curved shoreline, but rather the position of the reflections relative to their corresponding sources above. Just pull some vertical guides out in Photoshop and you'll see what I mean - the corresponding "bits" (like any ear or eye on the cats and the same part on the reflection below) should line up.

One other thing sticks out as a bit odd to me - why the reflection on the cat on the left is so tall (relative to the other reflections) while it is crouched lower than the two cats in the middle...perhaps an odd ripple thing!

Cheers...thanks for sharing this nice eye candy!

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on April 13, 2014 at 8:04 AM

Hello everyone and thanks for the feedback

The tight space on top is due to 2 other lions that were right behind these which answers Brad's question of why the reflection of the lion to the left is so long. It is actually a reflection of those 2 other lions.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 13, 2014 at 3:20 PM

Lovely light and warm/cool colour contrasts - a great moment as it stands!

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 13, 2014 at 9:04 PM

Great photo Mario, wouldn't change a thing. Love the intensity of the colours, rich yet still very natural.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on April 14, 2014 at 2:52 AM

I wonder that water is reflecting more than it has been shown in the frame!

Great light n beautiful frame!
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on April 14, 2014 at 3:29 AM

a lovely moment nicely captured Mario. Rich colours, good eye contact and a neat reflection as well.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 14, 2014 at 9:58 AM

Great job even getting this Mario...I imagine getting all four to do what you are hoping for is certainly no cake walk. I like it as posted.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 17, 2014 at 4:29 PM

Beautiful light and excellent capture -
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on April 18, 2014 at 7:56 AM

Hello Mario

WOW ! An amazing capture & well deserved WP!:)

Many have already commented positively on this image ! and I too have my likes, The yellow eyes are enhanced in the morning glow lighting! The reflection has caught the sky well , showing darker and framing the family .

Is this a crop? With ISO100, you should have plenty of clean Image to enlarge any size!

thanks for sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments