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Plains Huntress


Plains Huntress
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: 2005-12-20
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 170 - 500 APO
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-04-24 11:19
Viewed: 5282
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The females amongst lions do most of the hunting (not all as some suggest). This is the pride queen of the Mpayathutlwa pride in the Mabuasehube game reserve in Botswana. Although I was close to her, at one point no more than 3 m away, she was focused completely on a herd of Blue Wildebeest that was drinking at a small waterhole nearby, basically paying little attention to the photographer. She kept on walking as she was following the pride male (see my earlier posts) towards their resting place for the day.
As one can see from the short grass and the flat plains, hunting can sometimes be difficult as it is easy for prey to spot this supreme predator. However, the lions work as a group and they have the typical patience of Africa. Forming a semi-circle some females would lie down and wait for the pride female to walk as she is walking here amongst a herd of wildebeeste of oryx and prompting them to panick and run towards the inner of the semi-circle of waiting lions. Sometimes the male would fill this role and simply walk towards a herd and do nothing but let out a growl that can be heard up to 8 miles away, to send them scattering towards the waiting females who bring it down.
Scott, elefantino, Janice, scottevers7, Dando has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Fantistic, and the note is great ...

Scott

Hi Nico, good shot.
A little too bright.
Maibe it was not the best light to take a picture, but lion don't wait... :)
Andrea

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1457 W: 0 N: 1176] (6526)
  • [2006-04-24 16:17]

Hi Nico,
Excellent capture! Well composition with great pose and good POV,
the details and colours also are very good.
Well done!

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2006-04-24 20:06]

She looks like my cat here. And she brings home rats from the creek for us!! Live ones usually!!
So this lioness has no fear of you Nico. But do they ever try and hunt man?
I love her intense expression, she's nice and sharp, and you show her well. A good job, thank you
Janice

Hi Nico,
This really has to get you exicited when you are this close to take photos in the wild. You can really see the intensity in the eyes of this great looking animal. Great shot. I am very envious....
Scott

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 637 W: 32 N: 792] (3084)
  • [2006-04-28 5:08]

Hi Nico, great shot of this lioness in it's natural environment. Good colours and detail and a brave POV. The harsh light doesn't bother me as I think in this case it helps to depict the scene and atmosphere of it's surroundings. Great shot and TFS.
Dean.

Hi Nico,
I love this capture.Nice expression,compo,POV and DOF.
TFS
navnith

Botswana? Again? So, wanneer verhuis ons? Nice foto vader.

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