Lion Growl
Aug, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Memphis zoo. Thabo the lion was in a particularly fiesty mood this day. Perhaps he didn't want his picture taken.Time
This photo was taken on October 26, 2003 in the middle of the afternoon. It was a pleasant day, a nice respite from the unseasonable heat wave that had hit the week before.Lighting
On this particular day, the sky was overcast so I didn't have to fight with the sun.Equipment
I used my Canon 60D with a 70-300 zoom lens. And, a fence post to balance my arms.Inspiration
The lions at the zoo have always fascinated me. There is a mini-pride consisting of two females and one male. The regal look of the king of the jungle always draws me in.Editing
This photo had very minimal post-processing, just a slight color adjustment. It was also cropped slightly to better frame the image.In my camera bag
My go-to lens for my Canon 70D is an 18-200 Quantaray. I love the flexibility it provides - close ups from a distance and a decent wide-angle lens as well. Although I also have a nifty-fifty, I rarely use it as I haven't taken the time to use a prime lens. I need to learn to use my feet to zoom!Feedback
Taking a safari in order to photograph the Big 5 is on my bucket list. Until then, I have to settle for capturing images at the zoo. It takes patience with any type of cat - as they tend to be rather lazy and may not be active for long periods of time. Plan to spend as much time as possible and expect the unexpected. I typically stay at the exhibit for at least 20 minutes observing and snapping away. I prefer to use my zoom lens in order to get as close as possible from a safe distance. If it is a hot day, plan to shoot in the morning as the lions tend to move toward the shady area in back of the exhibit in the heat of the day. On a cold day, the lions love to lay on the heated rock!
