Lion Motion

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 12, 2016239 views9 comments

Just a juvenile male lion on the move, captured with a slow shutter speed.
What if I told you that I took this photo while sitting on the ground not more than 30 meters away from the pride?
My guests on this photo safari to Mana Pools in Zimbabwe absolutely loved being able to spend time on foot with iconic animals such as this - they are totally wild too. I can't wait to head back there in July.

Techs:
Nikon Df
Nikkor 80-400mm VR-II @ 400mm
f20 | 0.5 seconds | ISO-100

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on April 14, 2016 at 10:13 AM

Nice job keeping the head sharp. You really pulled this off well.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on April 14, 2016 at 12:19 PM

I like the ghostly effect of this, with all the blurring of the background as well as the motion blur of the animal. The sharpness of the head is a nice surprise.

Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on April 15, 2016 at 8:51 AM

Hello Morkel,.. well done to create an excellent moment of motion perceived.

Bill

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on April 15, 2016 at 6:07 PM

Terrific that you were able to capture this outside the vehicle Morkel. Excellent perspective, one of the best big cat motion images I've seen-well done!

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on April 16, 2016 at 8:40 AM

Hi Morkel,

This one is pleasing! I think all good motion blurs need "visual contrast" between the blurred parts and at least one area that is sharper, and you've done that nicely here. All the blurred lines in the background seem to tilt slightly downward from the left side to the right, make me wonder if your pan was off-level a little (slightly different issue than an off-level shot). I'd experiment a little with a slight CCW rotation if this one was mine...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 17, 2016 at 2:59 PM

Nicely done Morkel, this looks great with the head relatively sharp and the movement shown by the slow shutter speed. devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Hisham Atallah on April 18, 2016 at 10:53 AM

Now that's a well done pan! Extra points for doing it while being that close to wild lion ;) Maybe a little head turn into the frame would have been desirable.

Cheers,

Hisham.

Registered on November 5, 2014, 121 Posts, 352 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on April 18, 2016 at 11:23 AM

Morkel,
Lions are quite used to people in Mana, it might be of interest to you that walking may be banned to those accompanied by a qualified guide and registered operators.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 18, 2016 at 5:41 PM

Thanks for the kind comments!

Brad - good spot, will play with the rotation.

Ken - the ban was on the cards last year for those NOT making use of a pro Zim guide and operator, both of which we use on our trips. It was wiped off the table and replaced with a walking permit of $100 the public needs to buy.

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