Ken, the lovable lion.
Ken, the lovable lion.
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Awards
Contender in the Photography Awards
Action Award
Chatter Award
Contender in the Visual Poetry Project
Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 21
Legendary Award
Contest Finalist in Celebrating Earth Day Photo Contest 2019
Winner in wild Cats of Africa Photo Challenge
Winner in African Animals Photo Challenge
Contest Finalist in Wildlife Babies Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Happening At The Zoo Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Adorable Baby Animals Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 17 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Exotic Wildlife Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Photographer Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 12
Contest Finalist in 300 Furry Friends Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Animals Are Beautiful Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Monthly Pro Vol 13 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Photography 101 Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Big Cats Photo Contest
Staff Favorite
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Superior Skill
Genius
Love it
Virtuoso
Top Ranks
Categories
Teri_Reames
December 09, 2014
These 2 lions have become my favorite lions to photograph. I could just set and watch them for hours.
Teri_Reames
December 13, 2014
Thank you, my husband purchased me a new lens and it made a huge difference.
Teri_Reames
April 03, 2015
Thank you sweetpea72 ~ Richard and I were at the Safari Park on Monday and boy Ken and Dixie have grown. Again, thank you for your kind words. :)
Teri_Reames
April 04, 2015
Thank you so much Cathy! Ken & Dixie have a special place in my heart as they were orphaned by their mother. We try and go often to visit and see their progress.
Teri_Reames
May 07, 2015
Thank you Wojtek ~ big hugs from Southern California to Poland my friend. :)
DaveLoucks
May 07, 2015
Congrats I know all the effort you two have placed in these images. Well deserved award!
Teri_Reames
May 07, 2015
Dave, I believe I got this shot the day Richard and I met you and Sally at the Safari Park. Thank your for the kind words and tell Sally a big hello from us!
RDVPhotography
August 15, 2015
Congratulations Teri on another being a finalist in another contest. Wonderful image.
Teri_Reames
August 16, 2015
Thank you Ron, Ken my handsome little lion has made me proud. Sometimes it is being at the right place at the right time. :)
RDVPhotography
September 03, 2015
Saw we made the finalist list for Furry Friends and your husband also, congratulations, is 5 times the magic number for a win??
Teri_Reames
September 03, 2015
Ken the lion seems to always be a bridesmaid but never the Bride. Lets hope 5 times is the charm. This is the second time Richard and I have both been a finalist in the same contest. I don't think most people put it together we are married. Bring on the competition in the Reames household. LOL Though Richard has 39 plus years of taking photos then me. I am his little grasshopper still learning and enjoying the adventure!
rocksteadyredhead
September 06, 2015
This shot is nothing short of fabulous. Thank you for sharing this.
Teri_Reames
September 06, 2015
Thank you so much for the very kind words. I greatly appreciate them ~ they mean the world to me as I have only been doing photography for about a year now. :)
RDVPhotography
November 08, 2015
Hi Teri, See we all made the finals for Exotic Wildlife. Been off for last 45 days traveling and trying to catch up. OK next time a WIN!!
mttm429143
December 27, 2015
I love this picture :) I love doing pictures in zoo's I went to south Africa and that was my favorite part
Teri_Reames
December 27, 2015
That is on my bucket list of life to visit South Africa. I have a friend who cares for 13 lions for a sanctuary. But until then, it is the Safari Park and the different Zoos. Thank you for the kind words. :)
Teri_Reames
January 24, 2016
Thank you and Congratulations to you as well. At least on this contest we don't have Mr. Reames to go up against too. LOL Good luck my friend. :)
SnowbunnyPhotography
February 12, 2016
Awwww! How cute! LOL! :-) Lovely image. Congrats on the awards. :-)
Teri_Reames
February 12, 2016
Thank you very much . . . it seems Ken has become the Susan Lucci of receiving awards. Hopefully it won't take him 26 years before he wins something. lol
Bruz
February 16, 2016
Such an awesome picture Teri. I thought I had already commented on this shot of yours. Congrats on every award this has gotten. Each and every one was deserved. :-)
Teri_Reames
November 27, 2016
I am so sorry I just saw your message. I took this at a Safari Park in California. And thank you for your kind words. :)
andinorwich
December 23, 2016
wonderful lighting and structure to this photo... and the lion licking the log, just tickles me
Jawatson12
December 28, 2016
Great Capture. I have watched them grow up and never get tired of seeing them.
Masterphoto
July 08, 2017
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
Christine_Thibeault
September 18, 2019
This is gorgeous, I love so many of your pictures. Bless your skill
Teri_Reames
April 10, 2020
I was extremely fortunate on this shot. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo of the lion was taken at an animal sanctuary/Safari Park. A brother and sister duo were orphaned by their mother due to the female cub having a bladder infection. In the wild the mother would have killed her newborn cubs knowing one was ill. The sanctuary took the brother and sister duo in and bottle fed them and gave them a loving environment. At 18 months old they were relocated to a zoo here in the United States. As a new photographer I learn something new everyday. However, I have spent countless hours watching over these two amazing animals taking hundreds of photos to finally find the perfect shot of Ken. Patience is definitely required. The sanctuary is run by donations only and a couple by the name of Ken and Dixie made a large donation to help save these two beautiful animals. Therefore, that is how these two lions got their names.Time
Though I took hundreds of photos this day, this particular photo was taken in the late afternoon in December. The two cubs were more active and playful allowing me to capture Ken licking a tree stub.Lighting
Since it was the month of December and the sun was starting to set in the late afternoon it allowed a burst of sun light to shimmer through the trees highlighting Ken in a unique way.Equipment
At the time I owned a Nikon D600. I have since upgraded to a Nikon D750. As a birthday gift my husband purchased me a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm lens. This was my first time using my new lens and I am extremely happy with the results. Both my husband and I own Manfrotto 05CX3 tripods with a 322RC2 head. With this heavy of a lens you absolutely need a tripod.Inspiration
My inspiration for this photo comes from my love of animals, especially lions. I have a friend who runs a sanctuary in Africa caring for 13 lions. He has educated me on the numerous countries that allow canned hunting. That includes the United States. It breaks my heart to know that anyone would kill an animal for just the sport of it. Lions have become one of my passions to photograph. I find them to be majestic beautiful creatures.Editing
I shoot in RAW upload to Adobe Lightroom for most of the initial processing. I then export my image as a TIF file and finish processing in Adobe Photoshop CS6. This particular photo took very little editing.In my camera bag
I own two camera backpacks. The larger camera bag I usually will keep all of my lenses, Gorilla tripod, etc. The smaller backpack I pack the lenses I feel I will need for that shoot. I also take any and all filters I may need ~ ND Filter, Circular Polarizing Filter, 10 Stop ND Filter and of course my Nikon D750 camera. My husband and I own 9 different Nikon lenses so what we are shooting for the day determines what lenses we take.Feedback
Trying to photograph animals is like trying to herd cats. It may take many visits at different times of the day. And hundreds upon hundreds of photos. I have a saying "It truly takes a little bit of talent and a whole lot of luck to get the perfect shot of an animal". You can not pose a wild animal, nor talk to a wild animal it is up to the wild animal to be themselves. It is luck if you are there at the right moment in life to share in their experience. Patience is my best advice.