The King on His Throne (Monochrome Version)
Apr, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this shot in the renowned "Tierpark Hagenbeck" which is a zoo in the city of Hamburg, Germany. It is a perfect place for photographing lions because unlike in other modern zoos you get relatively close to the animals without a window in between. This allows for lion shots of unrivaled clarity.Time
This shot was taken at about noon on a sunny autumn day.Lighting
In zoos you cannot be too picky about the light. When the animal does something interesting like sitting on an old dead tree and looking around majestically then you have to take the picture in whatever light you have in this moment. This cat was sitting in the harsh sunlight of midday. That's why in this shot one of the main challenges was to know the camera's dynamic range so that I could change the shot without loosing any detail in the highlights and the shadows. However, this light helped to emphasize the structure/texture in the fur and the tree.Equipment
I used a Nikon D7100 and my trusted Nikkor 70-300 VR lens. I also used a tripod.Inspiration
To me the dead tree acts like a throne for the "king of animals". When this male lion climbed it and looked around like this, I know I had the perfect opportunity to depict the lion in all of its royalty.Editing
Obviously, I converted the image to black and white. This helps to bring out the wonderfully intricate structure of the animal's fur. I also blackened the background, a technique which I see as a means of minimalistic abstraction.In my camera bag
When I photograph in zoos, I usually use the Nikon D7100 since January 2016 a Tamron 150-600 zoom lens. I also use a tripod because this lens is quite heavy and awfully difficult to hold steady at 600mm, even with image stabilization activated. I also often have my Sigma 105mm macro lens in my bag which I use for interesting flowers as well as small zoo animals like spiders, frogs, lizards and snakes.Feedback
Be patient and alert. You often get only one shot of a certain situation. Animals don't wait for photographers. In doubt, shoot first and think afterwards. Also: Go to the zoo alone. Family members, too, usually don't wait for photographers. Only go with other photographers if you know them well and know for sure that they are as patient as you are. Always keep the DoF in mind. It can become pretty shallow at 300mm or more. Animals face, however, often require a large DoF. Use a DoF calculator to learn the amount of DoF you can work with. Set your focus point accordingly. Often, it is not wise to focus on the eyes or the nose because then the other part of the head will be out of focus which my look weird. Focus on the area between nose and eyes then. Keep experimenting and if you are still practicing, don't hesitate to chimp and learn.
