These two images are of a couple special cats I've been lucky enough to find and photograph over several years.
The handsome male lion lives well off the beaten track and I've spent time with him for three years now. Of all my images of him, I'm fond of this black and white the most. It had just stopped raining and the sun was peeking through - he was moving through the high grass between the kopjes and had stopped to give his mane a vigorous shake to rid the rain water, followed by this intense look at me.
The male Leopard I had shot over many days back when he was a wee cub frolicking with his sister - and now, he's a beautiful adult exuding confidence. He's afforded me lots of images - but I'm partial to this black and white of him resting in the shadowy limbs of a Sausage tree.
Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are most welcome.
Jim
Male Lion in the Serengeti kopjes (5D2 / 70-200 2.8L II @ 200mm)
Both wonderful images with totally different feels to them. The lion seems to be looking past you either towards his females or to something else that got his attention...a beautiful shot that I suspect also looks great in color.
The leopard shot is a study in intensity...these guys look deep into your soul and you can feel their stare upon you...this is a no nonsense cat that will rip your heart out given the chance....great image Jim!
Eric
i normally don't like b+w nature shots but these are two of the exceptions. both are very intense images that really don't need the color. very nice jim!
I'm in the club of not normally liking b&w conversions of animals but just like Dorian said it works wonderfully on these. Both are really strong images
Great captures.
I am dreaming of catching one of these patriarch lions standing on one of those big rocks (Kopie) like in the Lion king movie? You are fortunate to be able to following these big animals over such a long time.
Bob
eyelaser wrote:
Both wonderful images with totally different feels to them. The lion seems to be looking past you either towards his females or to something else that got his attention...a beautiful shot that I suspect also looks great in color.
The leopard shot is a study in intensity...these guys look deep into your soul and you can feel their stare upon you...this is a no nonsense cat that will rip your heart out given the chance....great image Jim!
Eric
Thanks so much Eric - it means a lot coming from the big cat master! Man, you are so right about leopards being no nonsense - and with a killer stare.
dorian wrote:
i normally don't like b+w nature shots but these are two of the exceptions. both are very intense images that really don't need the color. very nice jim!
dorian
Thanks Dorian, I'm with you on the black and white...and I don't convert many. However, these two just appealed to me in monochrome so I committed to processing them that way.
Tim Kuhn wrote:
I'm in the club of not normally liking b&w conversions of animals but just like Dorian said it works wonderfully on these. Both are really strong images
Tim
Thanks Tim, glad to draw you out of that color rut
