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Etosha Huntress
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Etosha Huntress

by Morkel Erasmus

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 26, 2014268 views12 comments
We spent quite a bit of time following this lioness on the edge of the vast Etosha pan as she stalked an oryx. We had to leave before she made an attempt to chase it down (close to sunset and would have been late for the camp gate). On the high res image you can see a puncture wound on her hind quarter where she was wounded by her previous target (also an oryx) shortly before we came across this scene.

The rainy season had just started and seeing the vast landscape enveloped in these heavy deluges was special.

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR-II
Kenko Pro Circular Polariser
f8.0 | 1/400 SS | ISO-1400

Comments

12 comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 26, 2014 at 8:38 PM
Hey Morkel,

You do like the 'scapes (as you know, I do too). I like this - to me it looks very, very "real" - and that's a huge positive (I am SO tired of hyper-saturated, over-HDR'ed scenes). Love how the cat is almost hidden via colour similarity to the grass - kinda "hiding in plain sight" - cool. I suspect some will mention the near 50:50 split on land:sky, but the fine clouds/rain in the distance breaks that symmetry up for me (so you splitting of the frame works fine). I also find the thin band of water (I'm assuming that's what it is) that's included in the scene pleasing. Very nicely constructed.

On the "easily-fixed" end - I see a few dust specs (on your sensor) in the sky - almost directly above (and slightly to the right) the cat (more visible on larger version). On the polarizer - these always add to the sky on a shot like this, but I am seeing a bit of what looks like a polarizer-induced variation in sky colour (darkness of the blue) across the frame - always a challenge to avoid these effects.

Keep the 'scapes coming (and I'll try to do the same!).

Cheers...

Brad
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 27, 2014 at 3:15 AM
Love how this gives a big picture view of Etosha. I have expressed to Brad how his images from the Great Bear Rainforest take me there. This image takes me to Etosha. That's all you can ask of an image like this. Well done.
Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 27, 2014 at 4:47 AM
I like that she seems totally concentrated on something else and interesting to see the lioness within the landscape to give a sense of place and territory, very nice shot, way to go.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on February 27, 2014 at 7:02 PM
Very nice image of this lioness in her habitat! Beautiful natural colors and I love how her coloring matches her environment.
Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Cloran on February 27, 2014 at 8:42 PM
A very nice feel to this natural landscape. It is the type of shot that anyone would like hanging on their wall. You don't have to be a nature addict to appreciate it. :toast:
Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments
Comment posted by Mario Moreno on February 27, 2014 at 8:51 PM
This is spectacular Morkel ! Great atmosphere captured ….. my only "4 nits" are in the form of specks I can see in the larger image
Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments
Comment posted by William Bickle on February 28, 2014 at 8:18 AM
Hello Morkel

Well captured. Enjoy the scene as it is developing ! I have read where wild animals do not feel pain? That puncture looks quite deep?

thanks for sharing

Bill
Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on February 28, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Thanks for your kind comments, folks!
My bad on the dust spots, was very swift in editing this one :wink: :rolleyes:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on March 2, 2014 at 2:05 PM
Beautiful shot of 'lioness in habitat' - the subdued colours also fit together wonderfully…the clouds in the sky really give that bit of extra…and yes, the dust spots... :wink:
Grt, Ingrid.
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 3, 2014 at 7:24 AM
A very atmospheric shot Morkel.
The vastness of the landscape, the concentration of the lioness and the falling rain in the background all combine to make this a shot that needs to be seen as large as possible. :toast:
Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 5, 2014 at 1:28 AM
This should be viewed as large as possible. Morkel, I appreciate the subtle artistry.
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 6, 2014 at 4:59 PM
Thanks a lot folks. There is a full 36 megapixels of this one available, so it will definitely go into my large fine art print collection.
:wavey:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments