Lion in Flight

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 3, 2012684 views21 comments

I am back from an amazing trip to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. I wanted to 'ease into things' but was just too excited about this sighting to not share something ASAP...

One of my most memorable moments on safari came last Thursday morning at sunrise when we were witness to lions hunting, killing and devouring a young eland right next to our vehicle...on an open plain...with almost no vegetation to clutter the view.

I will share a whole series of these as I get stuck into processing...but here's one that just made me grin from ear-to-ear when I saw it on the back of the camera LCD that morning. This is full frame left to right and only cropped slightly top and bottom.

Would love your thoughts. She's actually running through the dust left by the prey.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f5.6 @ 1/800 SS @ ISO-2500

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 3, 2012 at 5:22 PM

Been waiting for this to arrive here.

What strikes me most about this image is how incredibly long and slender she is. It's the type of body I expect to see on a cheetah, not so much on a powerful lioness. This image really displays the body to maximum effect.

I think the dust might be seen by some to be a distraction, but it does add a bit of atmosphere and is more indicative of the environment, so it works for me.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ken Smith on December 3, 2012 at 6:25 PM

Wow! I must agree with your grin. The clarity, the eyes...the intensity of focus .. and motion...superb. If this launches a 'series' of like shots...then you have an incredible find. THis most reminds me of the cheetah videos shot with a motion track and lure (on vimeo.com) ... beauty or savagery in action. Congrats.

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 3, 2012 at 8:05 PM

Hey Morkel,

Very cool shot. At first I thought the lioness was running on a surface of water and was even MORE amazed! Not much to nit-pick here - you couldn't have captured the image at a more perfect time and I love the super-focused look she has. I quite like all the dust that she's kicking up - adds even a stronger impression of amazing speed and power. Very simple and very compelling. Well done!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Guy Runco on December 3, 2012 at 10:00 PM

Great shot Morkel, I'd be grinning too! Very strong image, plenty sharp where it needs to be, and the crop works quite well. Excellent work!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on December 3, 2012 at 11:01 PM

Great capture, especially after the mention of the dust left by the prey, she looks downright sleek stretched out like that.

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 4, 2012 at 4:30 AM

This is freaking awesome Morkel

I think the dust in front of the lion helps tell the story of the image along with great full on stride and focused attention.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on December 4, 2012 at 6:22 AM

What an amazing capture! The pure power of her stride is shown so well here. Again, amazing!

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 4, 2012 at 7:34 AM

Congrats Morkel! You have got a winner here.

Full stretched stride is wonderful, so is the flying dust.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 4, 2012 at 1:54 PM

This is a very cool action shot indeed; that must have been some awesome sighting.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 4, 2012 at 3:52 PM

Thanks a lot for the generous compliments, folks!

Got many more to share, as soon as I can get processing...it was indeed an unforgettable sighting...

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 4, 2012 at 9:26 PM

Razor sharp focus on the lion, nicely done! "Ideally" would prefer just a little more room in front of the lion, but heck it's a large cat running flat out and captured airborne, can't ask for much more realistically.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 5, 2012 at 12:22 AM

There are so many things to like about this image, Morkel - the way you have captured her in full flight in mid-air, the clouds of dust she is flying through, the dust raised by her hind paws, the intent look on her face...... Would have preferred a little more space to the right for her to run into, and maybe a little more colour in her body, which looks a little too pale at present. Looking forward to the sequel!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 5, 2012 at 9:58 AM

I don't have to add that this is truly special with the airborne pose and flying dust...just can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve to show us!

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 6, 2012 at 11:00 PM

Thanks so much, guys...

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

Comment posted by Joe James on December 9, 2012 at 9:28 PM

WOW! Nothing more to say....amazing photo Morkel!

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

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on December 10, 2012 at 2:11 PM

The dust clouds and pose form a perfect combination. Great job getting the entire lion in one frame!

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Excellent shot and wonderful timing to get the lion in full stride with all the paws off the ground, the large image was a pleasure to view.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 12, 2012 at 6:12 PM

Stunning image - not the tiniest nit from me - just perfect.
Congrats on the very well-deserved WP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on December 18, 2012 at 1:09 PM

Awesome shot, I just love it. Look at that lean body... Congrats on the WP!!

Grt, Ingrid.

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

Comment posted by Adam Smith on December 31, 2012 at 8:47 PM

MAN! that is powerful right there - look at the lean body and the distance covered in that jump. That is pure power. What was it after?

Registered on November 21, 2012, 16 Posts, 107 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 5, 2013 at 4:23 PM

Thanks everyone.

She was chasing a young eland...

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