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Lion King


Lion King
Photo Information
Copyright: Nico van Gijsen (Nico) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 1 N: 335] (1321)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-28
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 70-300mm AF-G
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Felidae of the world: First series, Great Portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-06 4:40
Viewed: 8862
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A black maned Kalahari lion, found only in the arid Kalahari regions of South Africa and Botswana. Taken in Mabuasehube in Botswana. He is king of the Mpayathutlwa Pan (Mpayathutlwa: stomach of the giraffe). This is the pride male and we have been watching him for the past two years (visited approx. 6 times!). He is now in his prime and should last another year before being thrown out by a younger male (the average tenure of males are about 2 years). For a number of reasons I feel very close to him and will donate an enlargement of this photo to the Botswana Department of Wildlife to be put up at the Mabuasehube entrance office in his memory. Mabuasehube is a small game reserve in an extremely harsh, arid region of the Botswana Kalahari. The ideal place to see lion, cheeta, hyena and raptures as well as most antelope normally found in the dryer regions of Africa. Animals are dispersed though and one has to work hard and sleep little in a hot (40+ C) dry climate.
Dee_eS, Dave has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To L810th: Lion KingNico 1 12-07 23:25
To RII: smileyNico 1 12-06 23:33
To Arjuna: Lion KingNico 1 01-11 07:59
To Jancie: Lion KingNico 2 01-08 06:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Very good close-up of this lion Nico, looking right at you. Where did you photograph him and how far away were you? Well done.

Composition: ****
Sharpness: ***
Color: ***
DOF: ***
POV: ***

Great portrait, just a bit dark.
TFS.

Hi Nico
A very hearty welcome to TN. What a surprise! I will mail you tonite!
Great eye-contact, no wasted space and we can see he means business

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 11 N: 72] (436)
  • [2005-01-06 7:58]

Welcome to TN!
Amazing shot,cool portrait of Lion.Great Eye contack makes this superb shot.
Which lens u used?would have nice if metion the details :).

Great close portrait Nico.
Very good pose and colours.
Great work.
Welcome to TN.

And the largest of the lions I believe. Excelent capture. He looks as if he's going to come out of the screen and have me for lunch.
Well done on this portrait.

Mike

An excellent first performance, Nico.
A great protrait. I dared a WS.
I wish you the most cordial welcome on TN.
In the pleasure to admire your next sendings and to read your notes and critics.
Thank you for sharing.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2005-01-06 12:54]

Welcome to TN Nico. very nice mugshot of the King. Great POV and IMO the focus is just a touch off for your equipment. Nonetheless, a very nice post.

Excellent image, Nico. The detail in his fur is incredible!! Welcome to TN and hope to see many more of your posts.

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2005-01-06 14:11]

Wel Nico it sounds Dutch,
Very good capture you did here, fantastic head, great details, good balance, fantastic photo, good job

Welcome on TN Nico.

Excellent portrait and well presented first post. Very good sharpness and colours. I like the tight cropping here - well done.

A big welcome to TN.
What a nice potrait, great aproach to show wonderful details, and lloks very natural.
Hope to see more photos and critiques soon!
Thanks for sharing.

Welcome, Nico. Beautiful first posting. This portrait is almost human, with such expressive eyes. Looks like the old wise man of the tribe. I like the colors and the close framing. Some notes about shooting conditions an photographic data would be appreciated as well.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-08 23:59]

Welkom hier by TN Nico! I like this first post a lot. The attention and interest he showed in you would have giving me some chills down the spine - you captured this well, because he is looking me in the eye too!

The sharpness is excellent and I like this portrait with all the important bits just inside the image.

Very well done and thanks for posting. I hope to see lots more of your work here on TN

Excellent full-on facial shot.

Een zeer mooi portret, Nico. Ik hoop dat ik er ooit zelf ook zo eens eentje kan maken bij een van mijn volgende bezoeken aan Zuidelijk Afrika. Well done, TFS!

Quite the majestic portrait! Nico!
Bravo!
It should be treasured at the Botswana Department of Wildlife.
It is very beautiful!
Thanks,
Dave

  • Great 
  • RII Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 481 W: 0 N: 895] (2862)
  • [2005-12-06 21:27]
  • [+]

Hi Nico.
GRRRRRR....Great portrait of the lion king, nice composition, very nice photo.
Saludos....RICARDO.

PS.Remember the points smiley of your last critique of my photo Micrathena Sagittata(2005-12-05 8:21].

  • Great 
  • L810th (0)
  • [2005-12-07 18:38]
  • [+]

Hi! Nico,
This is my first chance to browse through the wonderfull wildlife images here on TN. It is hard enough to capture beautiful scenery in some of these hotter climates for most of us, but to have the added fear of something sneaking up behind you is too much for me I'm afraid. My hat comes off to you guys out there in the bush.
This "capture" (TIC) is magnificent and I could not resist giving him a makeover in a WS.
I hope it gives you an alternative look as I was bothered by his posture and imbalance of framing.
Really well done Nico and thank you for sharing this Master piece.
Mike.

Very spectacular, picture perfect, I like the WS on it better, it brings out more. This image is the perfect "safari dream", Nico! One of the best lion shots around and there are plenty of them from everywhere including wild ones from India, I saw recently ...

  • Great 
  • captain (538)
  • [2006-04-19 14:54]

A super picture, very well caught and super sharp.

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