Lion cub playing ....Masai Mara 20130001-105172
Apr, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was taken in the Masai Mara. We have been fortunate enough to have visited the Masai Mara on three occasions. I am always dreaming of going back again. To me the Masai Mara experience is the ULTIMATE of wildlife experiences for predators and larges animals. Africa has so much to offer , not only for the photographer but also as a non photographer.Time
Our camp was just outside of the National Park. We had to get up quite early, 5am, to pay entrance fees and then set off to find animals. Our mission was always to capture the migration, but on the way we would always encounter the two females with their cubs. Often we would first try to photograph the lions and cubs before too many vehicles arrive at the scene. Early morning would always be a time where the cubs would be well rested and very playful. This photograph was shot at 7h10 on a beautiful sunny morning.Lighting
I always try to work with natural daylight only. It often makes the challenge much bigger because of continuously changing light and especially overcast days tends to be really difficult. Off roading is not always permitted (strict rules apply) thus manoeuvring the vehicle for the best position is another challenge to overcome.Equipment
The photograph was shot with Nikon D4 with a 600mm lens. I always use Aperture priority and a very sturdy tripod. I shoot on White balance Auto and exposure -1.0Inspiration
When you encounter two lionesses and 6 cubs you need more than 2 eyes ! You continuously use one eye on the lens and the other to watch what else is happening! This cub was definitely challenging it's mother in all sorts of ways while the others were happily playing in the water. Just after this shot the mother snatched at the cub which only then backed off.Editing
Cropping and sharpening is the basics that I use. With beautiful sunshine like this you might need to slightly add a bit of exposure or contrast. For this RAW format NX2 works really well.In my camera bag
I normally carry 2 camera bodies. My favourite is still the Nikon D4 but the colour on Nikon 810 is superior. I would carry a zoom lens 150mm - 600mm. a shorter lens 70mm- 200mm and a wide angle 24mm- 120mm. I always have a 1.4x converter as well as a 2x converter in my bag. I also find a pencil and paper handy to make notes.Feedback
With cubs playing you need to be aware of where they are and what they are doing every moment you spend with them. It is a big challenge. The rewards always makes you forget about the effort that went into taking the photograph. When doing wildlife photography you have to be ready to take a photograph at the blink of an eye. Know your camera inside out so that your fingers work automatically. Always return your settings to a "neutral" setting which you choose and remember. Your fingers will soon learn how to work from this position to your desired setting. Always have fun and do not allow the missed shot to overshadow your experience!
