Moonlit Predator

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 6, 2010316 views10 comments

We were on our last night drive in South Africa when we came across this male lion. He was intently watching two Cape buffalo, formidable prey. It was early in the evening and the light was still OK however the lion was in very thick cover. As it became darker the lion moved out into the open for a better photo opportunity. I took this image with little more than moonlight, no flash.

I tried to portray the lion's heightened activity levels at night and I liked the way the moonlight glared off of his mane.

Thank you for viewing and I appreciate your comments.

ISO 1600, 1/50 f/4 @200mm

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on April 6, 2010 at 4:22 PM

Hello, Darren I always appreciate any try to go out of the marked path. I'm not sure about this one even if all those colors are very peculiar (i'd like to see it in a larger version). If i were the lion I would have thank you for not using the flash.

Cheers

Registered on November 14, 2006, 118 Posts, 855 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on April 6, 2010 at 6:58 PM

Very interesting and mysterious. I like how intent he looks even without seeing the eye. I might cool the colors down a bit to portray the monnlight and night feel better.

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Alessandra & Rocco on April 7, 2010 at 5:22 AM

Superb shot, you've handled lights very well

Registered on March 3, 2007, 122 Posts, 778 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 7, 2010 at 9:18 AM

HI Darren,

I find this shot interesting and definitely very different! I am left wishing that the light had also struck the eye because I think if there was a twinkle there this unique shot would be even stronger. Paul may be onto something about cooling down the colours a little - might be worth experimenting with...

Cheers...thanks for thinking (and shooting!) "outside the box".

Brad

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on April 7, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Thumbs up for creativity Darren! I quite like the moon-lit effect, but I agree with Paul that cooling it down might enhance this further. A pity about the eye not being visible, but that would have been very hard to achieve in mere moon light. Did you darken the BG afterwards?

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 7, 2010 at 1:24 PM

I really like that you are pushing the possibilities of camera equipment! I agree that it is special how the moonlight glares on his mane and creates a rim-light effect. This effect is quite engaging, but my personal sense is that is will be a little too dark for optimal printing. At the 720 pix width is is hard to tell for sure how much detail you were able to keep. I agree that it would have been wonderful if you could have captured a glint in the eye and that may have been enough to make this a real show-stopper ! I hadn't thought of Paul's idea of cooling the color temp to enhance moonlight appearacne, but it makes sense and I would certainly be experimenting! Thanks very much for sharing this one.

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

Comment posted by Marco Poggioni on April 7, 2010 at 5:15 PM

I agree that cooler (btw, is it WB for 'moonlight'?) and less saturated colors might increase the feeling of night and imminent action. However, a very good idea.

P.S. Which is your camera?

Registered on August 6, 2009, 15 Posts, 38 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on April 7, 2010 at 7:46 PM

Wonderful feeling of intensity that portrays the night predation well. Even with no light on the eye, the expression is clear. I think the comp, with the lion peering into the darkness adds to the mood of this image. Congratulations for daring to shoot this in such conditions.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on April 8, 2010 at 5:48 PM

Thanks very much for your comments to all.
Vincent - I did darken the bg only slightly afterward so no branching was distracting.
Marco - For this image I used the Canon 400D with Canon EF 70-200mm 4L USM lens.

Cheers

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 20, 2010 at 3:00 PM

Very nice - well done to come up with a lovely image despite the darkness.

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