vigilant sleep -REPOST

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 22, 201084 views6 comments

Hi, it's long since i've posted my last shot, but my job kept me very busy. Anyway, this is from my last trip to Chobe Ntl park, Botswana, in 2009. Back from a relatively quite boat trip on the river, along the "main"road a couple of lioness and 4 cubs were resting. As soon as the news of their presence was know, lots (too much) vehicles reached the place and several of them approached the family without any care (how i hate this things). Annoyance of the two females was touchable. A truck, yes a truck, with 20 or more shouting people completely smoked one of the cubs and one of the female. At that point i asked my drive to go away.
however, this is one of the shot I was able to take before the chaos.

C&C are always very welcome.

D2Xs
Nikkor 70 - 300 f/4-5.6@130mm
iso 200 1/125 f/6.3 hand held
matrix
WB sunny
some pp in CS3: cropped to semi-pano, ligths and contrast adjustment, selective color tuning.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on November 22, 2010 at 7:48 PM

Good shot of the two lions! Good color and great detail. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 26, 2009, 131 Posts, 554 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 22, 2010 at 9:15 PM

I would have been equally upset...

Neat capture, given the distractions! You might apply some brightening and contrast boost to just the lions and foreground for additional impact. I like that they are focused on something other than your camera and that you found a perspective for a clean view of their faces.

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 22, 2010 at 11:37 PM

It's interesting to see these "beasts" at rest... especially covered in flies which are so small in comparison. I agree about the lightening up the image.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on November 23, 2010 at 6:17 AM

Nice capture of the lions here, the crop wokrs very well. Agree about lightening the image up a tad.

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 23, 2010 at 9:21 AM

Hi Luca,

I share your sentiments about the disturbance that inconsiderate wildlife watchers and/or photographers can inflict upon their subjects (or should I call them "victims"?).

I like the image as posted, but agree with Lon that it would be worth experimenting with adding brightness and contrast to the lions and foreground. Additionally, there might currently be a little too much foreground for my taste, which results in the subjects being just a tad too "dead-centred" in the frame (vertically) for my taste.

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Luca Mussato on November 24, 2010 at 1:23 AM

Thanks to all of you. I increased lights an contrast in the fg as well as reduced the fg .

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