Black and white lion
A nice shot of a lion. Thought it looked quite striking in black and white
A nice shot of a lion. Thought it looked quite striking in black and white
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Nov, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at Chester zoo in the original lion enclosure before they "upgraded" and relocated it.Time
This was taken around lunchtime (1pm) on a weekend in winter I think. I remember it being a cold day but I was quite happy to take a break and try to capture these beautiful animalsLighting
The lighting was quite striking but in the post processing edit I tried to bring the highlights down a little to add some more contrast.Equipment
This was taken with my trusty Canon 70D and Canon 55-250mm EF-S lens. Hardly the most expensive set up but I think sometimes we get too hung up on gear. Sometimes things just work and we get cracking results with crop sensors and more budget friendly lenses.Inspiration
The Asiatic lions are always so entertaining to watch. Each time I wandered past their enclosure at the zoo, it was always a challenge to capture them. On this day the male was much more relaxed and seemed happy to pose for me (any the other photographers) at the time. Too good an opportunity to miss!Editing
Yes I have obviously done some post processing to this image. Mainly converting to black and white. I also added a little more contrasts, a small vignette to focus the viewers eyes on the lion and not the background.In my camera bag
When this photo was taken my kit was a bit different nowadays. I hadn't invested in too many lenses and the kit was quite light. Nowadays, my kit is a little more advanced. I tend to always carry my Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8, Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 G2, Sigma 105mm macro f/2.8 and canon 50mm f/1.8. I still have my 70D and use it all time. I'm currently saving up for my first full frame camera but will still be holding onto my 70D as its still a great piece of kit.Feedback
I would suggest always keep your eyes open for the opportunity and be patient. Animals at the zoo are obviously more confined than on safari but they still have their habits and times when they are most active. Visit often at different times and see what works best for you and the type of shot you want. Also, don't ever think that your kit isn't good enough to take great images. Yes, there is more expensive gear and I have upgraded some of my lenses, but its still possible to capture amazing shots with the basics!
