Wear & tear

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 27, 2013676 views19 comments

An old Kalahari King wounded by the quills of a porcupine. His blunt canines reveal that this is the type of prey he is forced to go for in his last days. Admittedly and very unfortunately framed too tight, but this was the image showing off the blunt canines and quills best. (I had been using a 70-200 and switched to a 500mm, realized it was too tight, but that is when he showed off his dental set; can't wait for that Canon 200-400/4 with 1.4xTC to finally become a reality!)

Camera Model Canon EOS-1DX
Shutter Speed 1/160 Sec.
Aperture Value f/4
ISO Speed 1250
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM
FF

Comments

19 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 28, 2013 at 1:37 AM

The blown background really accentuates the beautiful detail on the face of this old warrior. The quills, blood, worn teeth and upturned paw tells his story in a single still image. The Nikon 200-400 is awesome as a mammal lens, the built in tele on the Canon will hopefully make it even more versatile (especially since you won't have to worry about introducing dust when adding or removing a non-integrated teleconverter). The composition does need a little more of the lion's neck and shoulders to work optimally, but you already know that.

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

Comment posted by Grace Blair on February 28, 2013 at 8:38 AM

This tells a great story!

Registered on May 12, 2005, 127 Posts, 362 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Andrews on February 28, 2013 at 9:06 AM

Despite the nits Gary already mentioned, this is still a very powerful image.

Registered on December 31, 2011, 45 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 28, 2013 at 9:31 AM

Hello Vincent

Yes a Very Powerful Story telling Image !! Veterans are So interestesing to capture, they display So Much Character!

Any thought to his Age ? And those are serious Quills !!:)

thanks for sharing.

Bill

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

Comment posted by Chet Dowell on February 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM

This image is for me is full of pathos! I love the detail in the face and eyes. Your image certainly tells a story! Very nice work. Chet

Registered on December 3, 2012, 237 Posts, 1171 Comments

Comment posted by Clinton Bauder on February 28, 2013 at 4:42 PM

Hi Vincent,

I think the tight crop is fine here. The story is about the eyes, worn teeth and quills and that's all front and center. It's obvious wha the subject is so there's no need IMO for more context. It might be a bit better with a little more of the mane but only a little. It's great as is. I like the yin/yang composition with the lion in the right and bottom and the background in the left, top. Very powerful (and sad) image. Well done.

Clinton

Registered on December 8, 2009, 31 Posts, 231 Comments

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on February 28, 2013 at 5:45 PM

This is a very emotional image to me. Well captured and also moving.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 28, 2013 at 7:37 PM

A truly unique and amazing shot. If anything the quills make the lion look more fierce (but I don't that's what he is thinking). A touch more DOF would have been nice (along with additional room) but considering that you were stuck with the 500 for this shot, you made the most of it.

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on February 28, 2013 at 7:45 PM

This is one of those images which tell a story without any words. Well taken, Vincent. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Beth Huebner on February 28, 2013 at 8:07 PM

This is a great image. It made me so sad looking at it. What a transformation from the original majesty of this beast. Sad but extraordinary image.

Registered on January 28, 2013, 19 Posts, 56 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 1, 2013 at 12:03 AM

Bill, I cannot tell how old this lion is exactly, but lions don't get much older than app 12 years (in the wild) and this one must be close to that number else his canines would not be this blunt.

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

Comment posted by Balan Vinod on March 1, 2013 at 2:07 AM

What a story here Vincent. The tight corp is no issues. Blood on the paws, the face ..a strong story.beautifully crafted

Balan Vinod

Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 1, 2013 at 6:18 AM

I agree with your own assessment f the image Vincent. Not pretty, but it captures what you wanted to capture. The
blood combine with his dismal expression to tell you that this guy is well past his prime.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on March 1, 2013 at 7:38 PM

Ugh! That must be painful! Wished there was a little more of his head and mane, but the image is so overpowering even without.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 2, 2013 at 6:51 AM

it's tight but I do like how it focuses on his blunt canines and the quills
I can imagine everyone in the Canon stable salivating at that lens! hopefully the built-in TC will become more and more common in all telephoto lenses in the future...

nothing like a Kalahari lion, old or not, eh Vincent?

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 2, 2013 at 8:27 AM

Hello Vincent

Thanks for the update. I would enjoy seeing that Quilled Animal some time!!

Our Quilled North American Porcupines are so Complacent in Comparison !!

Bill

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

Comment posted by Johan Malmros on March 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM

You did a great job of that situation Vincent. He wasn't too generous in looking our way and you caught the moment.
I wish my atempts were half as good.

Registered on January 6, 2011, 20 Posts, 154 Comments

Comment posted by Don Randall on March 10, 2013 at 12:00 AM

Quite a lot of character in this fellow, and you have managed to capture a very compelling image of the wild life! I want to see more of him, but am happy with what I can see, as the blunt teeth and huge quills are amazing! Thanks for sharing.

Registered on March 9, 2013, 4 Posts, 17 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on March 10, 2013 at 6:09 PM

Excellent catch Vincent! It sure makes you feel sorry for the poor guy. Do the lions get infection from the quills?

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