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King of beasts


King of beasts
Photo Information
Copyright: Andy Cole (flagman) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 351 W: 44 N: 607] (2408)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-14
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon 70-200 f/4L, Hoya Super HMC Pro1 67mm Sky1B
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: A day at Whipsnade [II]
Theme(s): Zoo animals, Wild cats portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-08-17 10:59
Viewed: 6608
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Well, this is my 50th post and what better way to celebrate it than with the king of beasts?

Shot taken through the (very thick) glass of the viewing enclosure at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, Bedfordshire. It had just started to pour down so the enclosure was heaving with parents and running kids - I'm surprised I got any decent shots at all, but I managed to elbow my way to the glass and this shot was taken with the lens hood flat against the glass, hence there is no reflection.

Conditions: Cloudy, early afternoon. Manual exposure, RAW mode, handheld.
Very slight crop top and bottom, re-size, tiny bit of USM but it didn't really need it.

I hope you like it but I am very pleased to hear any comments, positive AND negative.

Interesting facts about the lion:
Scientific Name:Panthera Leo
Lions are one of the few species of cat that lives in social groups.

Life expectancy is about 15 years in the wild, up to 30 years in captivity.

A mature male can be 1.2m high at the shoulder and 2.5m long, not including the tail. Weight up to 200kg. They are the second largest cat in the world.
The roar of an adult lion can be heard up to 5km away.

Lion cubs are born with a spotted coat that fades after a few months.

A lions loud roar is made possible by the cartilage in his throat having ossified into bone (referred to as the Hyoid structure). This is true of all the big cat or "roaring" species. The smaller cats with the softer throat structure can only meow.
dew77, carper, ddg, ljsugarnspice, radz, Runnerduck, PDP, liquidsunshine, hummingbird24, traveller, elizabeth has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PDP: Tight cropflagman 2 08-18 14:50
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2005-08-17 11:29]

very nice one Andy,
I like the fantastic crop you made, the composition is well chosen, the details are good the colours are fantastic, the pov is good, I like the good job here, well done,
gr. Jaap

Congratulations, Andy on your 50th post! I think you marked this moment well with this photo. He has a very melancholy look to him. I like the coloring as it seems very natural. The portrait composition is wonderful. Well done :-) Thanks for sharing!

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-08-17 12:48]

A job well done Andy! Like Jaap wrote; the tight crop is excellent. It's almost unbelievable that you shot this through glass. Your best shot so far imo.

Pieter

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2005-08-17 14:33]

Excellent closeup shot.Good Texture&details are good.

This is avery nice portrait, Andy.
I like the composition abd POV very much.
Maybe little dark in the face but thats a minor nit.
Good details and nice colours.
Very well done.

Andy this is superb, I cannot believe this was taken through glass (and probably very grubby glass at that).
A stunning image of this amazing creature. I am drawn to Lions, being a Leo, and this capture is perfect.
Excellent pov, the lighting is faultless in my opinion.
A great image, and congratulations on your 50th post ....

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-08-17 17:12]
  • [+]

Hi Andy, the thumbnail doens't do this one justice. It has a very nice atmosphere. The lighting is very nice, soft and moody. Everything here is great. My only suggestions would be to give him a little more space to look into and maybe darken highlights would tone down the white on the muzzle. They are minor points though on an otherwise great shot.

Excellent portrait Andy,
Congratulations on your 50th Post.
I know how much of a job it can be to get the Lion at Whipsnade. You're a very brave man to go there during the school Holidays, I bet that's a nightmare.
I like the low POV and good sharp clear detail. Good colours and well composed.
Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the week.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4432 W: 248 N: 4028] (13270)
  • [2005-08-18 3:32]

Hello Andy!
Very nice portrait.Lighting is perfect.POV,details,sharpness,framing and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2005-08-18 21:09]

Beau portrait de ce lion, la lumière et la netteté sont parfaites.

félicitations !!

Excellent portrait!
Very good details and colour.
TFS!

Hello Andy,

All I can say is this a dynamic photo, and I am amazed at how incredible the details are considering the glass.

Wow!!!!!!

Congratulations on a superb image, great job, and TFS.

  • Great 
  • Dom Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 13 W: 4 N: 28] (94)
  • [2005-08-28 2:06]

Very detailed image Andy ! I like this portrait and the way you framed it ! Bravo !!
Dom :)

Ohh, yes, the king IS the king, look at that proud profile! Wonderful, excellent shot, co sharp and clear, and the frame matches so well! Two thumbs up! Irina

Lovely soft lighting and richly saturated colours combined with your tight composition make this a very pleasing portrait of the lion. You did very well to get this from behind the glass. Excellent work, a pleasure to view. TFS.
Cheers
Elizabeth

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