Lions at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Morning, backlit.
I don't really think that these animals are wild or natural, but I wouldn't want to be inside with them.

Comments & critiques welcome.
I think that #1 may have been overprocessed. This was inspired by Steven Rood's animal portraits.

#1 taken with a Canon 20D and Canon 300f4is, no filter, 1/1,000 sec, f4
#2 taken with a Canon 40D and Canon 300f4is, no filter, 1/500 sec, f4
#3 taken with a Canon 40D and Canon 300f4is, no filter, 1/400 sec, f4

I love # 2 & 3, but something feel "off" with # 1 - - something about the mane, his face is stunning, but - - I don't know how to put it. Something just feels "off"

But you caught some beautiful moments.

Lil

Lil Judd, I know what you mean.
I think it's the high contrast of the light hairs of the mane right of the face.
That's just the way the contrast came out after converting to b&w in Photoshop.
I think I'll try to reduce the contrast on the light parts.
The overall feel needs to be softened a bit.

Thanks for the input.

I have any idea for you.

I love the face, it's the mane that just came out - - - "off"....

Maybe some selective blur of the mane would help - - worth trying....

# 2 is just wonderful - - no one would know that's a "zoo" setting...

Lil

No1 is a beautiful conversion, perhaps pixellating a bit.

Super job
Great images
Well done

Ant

These are great! I do too really enjoy the first image

#1 is definitely a lifetime keeper shot, congrats! Blow it up on some canvas and enjoy it!

I absolutely love #1, If I had taken that it would be blown up and hanging on my wall in the entryway in my house!!

#1 and #2 are tops! Don't have any real issues with the mane - looks a bit lithographic, I think.

All lions in 1 and 2 seem to be thoughtful; to me, they have very emotional facial expressions. The big male is clearly letting his mind wander, and get a load of the body language of the female. I think you managed to capture personalities here. Good work!

Cheers,
Paul

Two new versions for #1.
Slight blur to the mane. Reduced contrast. I didn't want to do too much.
B is slightly darker than C.

At this small scale and on my monitor, I'm not sure which one I like more.
I guess that I'll have to print it and put it on a wall to really find out.
Any votes for your favorite?

Thanks, everyone for the input.

I'm sticking with #1 and I think it is just grrrrrrrrrreat! I love the mood that it evokes as well as the tonal qualities. If there were just a wee bit more eye contact it would be spectacular. I also like #2 just fine and would love to see #3 the same way. A very nice way of presentation IMO

Karl

I like each and every one of these ... all of them are just great. I actually love all of these... couldn't pick a favorite. Great job.

Like the first one..............large and on canvas if you can afford it.

one of the best B&W of anything I have seen in a long time.

Definately one to be proud of, regardless of where it was taken.

REALLY great work.

Number 1 is number 1. Very well done.

Tim

I really like # 2 and 3, particularly 3, it makes me smile!

# 1 reminds me of that Dragan (sp?) filter look, maybe there is just too much mane! Great portrait though.

Number 1 is number 1, to say it in Tim's words,
But this accounts also for number 2 and number 3!

Excellent work!

nb, I don't think there is something like a domestic lion, these animals are wild and stay wild, never forget that! (well, my cat might be a domestic lion, come to think of it )

RT.

All 3 are gorgeous, but I'm really drawn to the first one most So dramatic.

Jenna

#2 does it for me. Very nice

Did you shoot in B&W or just PS it that way?

Paul

Paul,

Thanks for the nice comments.

I shoot everything in RAW with a small JPEG.
I use the RAW (color) file for anything I want to adjust. I use the JPEGs mostly for emailing and web.
All my post work is done in Photoshop CS3.
I've recently changed my b&w conversion process by using the excellent black & white adjustment layer. It's a huge time saver over my older methods. Then I apply the sepia with a hue/saturation adjustment.
I'm not a photographer by trade, I'm a graphic designer - so I use the standard design tools.

Hey Lil Judd,

Do you prefer the original or the new variations of #1?
Just wondering since you have the same "issue" with the mane that I do.
I think I might have to print it large to see if one is better than the others.

Thanks again for the input.

Final version.

Thanks everyone all the comments and critiques.

Definitely like your final version best, beautiful shot! Large canvas sounds good!

Doug