The Thinking Lion
I have recently been expanding my portfolio to include wildlife in a more natural setting but I still love seeing animals like the big cats.
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I have recently been expanding my portfolio to include wildlife in a more natural setting but I still love seeing animals like the big cats.
We don't all get to go on safari that often and I am often a little disheartened when I see big cats in a zoo or environmental parks as they tend to look defeated in captivity. However when I visited Dartmoor Zoological Park last year I was amazed to see big cats that seemed to have a spark. They are well cared for and the enclosures make photography a pleasure compared to other parks.
I had heard the roar of Solomon when we were at the Bear enclosure and it sounded immense, not long after feeding time later that day I watched and waited in mist and rain and caught Soloman in this pose. Given the fencing and poor light I was really pleased with the result.
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We don't all get to go on safari that often and I am often a little disheartened when I see big cats in a zoo or environmental parks as they tend to look defeated in captivity. However when I visited Dartmoor Zoological Park last year I was amazed to see big cats that seemed to have a spark. They are well cared for and the enclosures make photography a pleasure compared to other parks.
I had heard the roar of Solomon when we were at the Bear enclosure and it sounded immense, not long after feeding time later that day I watched and waited in mist and rain and caught Soloman in this pose. Given the fencing and poor light I was really pleased with the result.
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Jun, 2012Views
1944
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Awards
Legendary Award
Featured
Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Jaw Dropping
Superior Skill
Great Find
Exceptional Contrast
Magnificent Capture
One Of A Kind
Peer Award
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 2Top 10 rank week 1
Categories
AlixColeby
July 17, 2012
Thanks all for the comments, very pleased. I have added some info about the shot for anyone interested.
Picture-It-All
July 17, 2012
I love it! I love the big cats. The whole inside of my car is tiger print. I also have a lot of tiger pics and print in my house. A very well deserved congrats.
Platinum
PRO+
Platinum
PRO+
mclaybaugh
July 17, 2012
wonderful capture. I too am not a fan of Zoos. I feel so bad for the animals.
PRO+
BrianBasson
July 21, 2012
A really great shot! Like you I can't stand seeing animals in zoos. Having grown up and lived in South Africa with access to all its game parks I've only been to a zoo once in my life and undertook never to go again.
CraigWest
August 05, 2012
Wonderful image. Very effective use of vignetting to really focus attention on the lion. Brings to mind an old advertising slogan that asked, "Have you got a tiger in your tank?" Now I have really dated myself. :~) Congratulations on the well deserved feature!
Platinum
CraigWest
October 21, 2012
Gorgeous image. Hertz puts you in the driver's seat? Congratulations on the feature. I love the big cats as well. Such regal creatures, and it truly is a shame to place them in captivity. That said, it is the only way most of us would ever have an opportunity to see or photograph them. Great job!
PRO+
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken a Dartmoor Wildlife Park in DevonTime
It was late afternoon so the light was good, the enclosure is well positioned with lots of lush vegetation. The biggest issue was trying to shoot through the fencing; what looks like a vignette effect is actually the fencing which has created the frame.Lighting
Because the sun wasn't in full force the surrounding vegetation was enhanced by the lower light and colours weren't bleached outEquipment
I have a Nikon D300s and this was shot through a Nikkor 28-200mm. It was handheld so I was pleased with the resultInspiration
I love animals and had been working on my wildlife portfolio. Like most people I don't get the opportunity to photograph beautiful big cats in the wild. The Big Cat enclosures at Dartmoor Wildlife Park are pure bliss for animal lovers! It was also feeding time and this is just one of the shots I captured that day. Unfortunately Soloman is no longer with us, hearing him Roar was out of this world!Editing
No on this occasion no post-processing was required.In my camera bag
It depends on which bag I take out and what I'm capturing, the only consistent item is the D300s.Feedback
Good light, bleached out detail can spoil this type of shot. I think the reason this shot works so well is because of the jeep rather than the Lion, he would look majestic anywhere but add another object or point of focus and it really brings the shot to life. Don't worry that you are taking photos like this at a wildlife park or a zoo, I use it as practice to photograph the animals I will get the opportunity to shoot in the wild!
