Queen of the Serengeti

Critiques [Translate]

•  
• chiaretta (762)
• [2008-03-03 3:19]

Hi Kath,
I'd like to be there!!!!
You've captured a wonderful portrait of this marvellous queen!
Perfect sharpness, colors... and the composition's choice are good!!!
really amazing!
Thanks for sharing
Chiara

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• andante (6371)
• [2008-03-03 3:21]
• [+]

Sweet Lord! This image is astonishing, Kath! National Geographic quality. Always wanted to go to the Serengeti, is it a complicated trip?
Cheers,
Enrique

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• eza1701 (3285)
• [2008-03-03 3:30]

Hi Kath,

Great quality photo and good composition with the lion placed off-centre. I lived in Africa (Zambia) when I was young so these photos bring back memories for me :o)

Best regards,
Paul.

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• Paolo (37955)
• [2008-03-03 3:39]

Wonderufl portrait Kath, excellent quality, composition, colpours and light.
a great one!
thanks, ciao

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• rodgerg (2402)
• [2008-03-03 3:50]

Hello Kath,

Superb image. A brillinat composition and a perfect technical qualitiy. Cheers.
Good day,
Roger

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• delkoo (21168)
• [2008-03-03 3:55]

hi kath
fantastic one, i am stunned by the quality of this shot, perfect sharpness and colors, composition is remarkable as well.

cheers
didier

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• corniste (2208)
• [2008-03-03 3:57]

hello Kath,

Wonderful shot! The top of the hill is just perfect! The half open mouth of the lionness would have sacared me... You do the same next time with a 14-24 mm and it is going to be in the National Geographic!

have a great day!

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• synaps (262)
• [2008-03-03 4:17]

excellent =))

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• mesutilgim (20121)
• [2008-03-03 4:35]

Hi dear Kath,
Wonderfull capture ! Very good pov and perfect sharpness. With your good info's a real TE job done !
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

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• sleon (8227)
• [2008-03-03 4:52]

Hi Kath
This image is so clear and sharp that it almost looks unreal! The off centre compo is excellent - good to have left space for her to look into - and the WS is lovely too.
Regards, Susanna

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• JCG (14338)
• [2008-03-03 5:35]

Hi Kath,

Which splendid photograph, you were lengthened in grass to photograph this lioness ??? I like much the point of view. The image is of very good quality I find, in particular in clearness. The photo gift on the family is also very successful. Once again which sumptuous memories of holidays and I understand that this image is your preferred, the deer always fascinate. Thank you for the note Kath and the sharing.

With all my friendships and a good afternoon,

Jean-Charles

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• Gerrit (21971)
• [2008-03-03 6:12]

Hi Kath,
excellent wild life shot. Remarkable low POV. The definition is superbe.
Regards, Gerrit

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• atsouth (253)
• [2008-03-03 6:30]
• - [workshop] [compare] [+]

Hi, v nice composition, the low pov really magnifies the imposing image of the lioness.
As for your ws image, i like the composition, and following your own observation about the composition being busy i decided to see what it looks like less busy.

regards

•  
• cherryripe (12695)
• [2008-03-03 6:36]

Hi Kath
This is fantastic. So close and sharp. Your 300 lens is really good. I can almost feel as though I can touch it, although I wouldn't. Your low pov and off-centred composition make it so dynamic.
Regards
Nikki

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• cobbydale (1622)
• [2008-03-03 7:20]

Excellent Kath, nice simple composition to avoid any distraction from the main subject, who is perfectly captured and placed in the frame. I like your workshop too (though not the other one by atsouth with the cubs cloned out!) but I think you made the right choice with this image.
cheers
Leon

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• dareco (5998)
• [2008-03-03 7:29]

This is a beauty, as is the complementary image. It looks so powerful! The lighting and colors are excellent. TFS

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• pboehringer (16367)
• [2008-03-03 7:39]
• [+]

Kath,
PEFECT! There isn't really a lot to say otherwise. The off center is obviously the key for the overall success. I would guess that any other tourist would have place the lioness dead-center. I can easily understand why this one is part of your favorites.
Is this a new lens? Did you buy specifically for this trip? How far away were you from these lions?
I'm sooooo jealous ;-)
Peter

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• cbrman (11622)
• [2008-03-03 8:21]

Hello Kath,

Une vue rapproché qui donne l'impression que cette lionne était très proche de toi ! Tu n'avais pas froidf au yeux ! Même avec ton 300mm tu ne devais pas être très éloigné ! La netteté est parfaite et le regard du fauve donne une belle impression !
Bien vu !

A+

Dominique

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• Cricri (25158)
• [2008-03-03 8:43]

Hi Kath,
Magnifique image, le POV qui lui donne de l'importance avec une excellente lumiére, un joli moment que cela doit être de voir aussi la petite famille ( en WS) pleine de tendresse, compliment
Good evening for you
cricri
Thank you..

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• Wandering_Dan (2498)
• [2008-03-03 9:13]
• [+]

Hi, Kath -

Beautifully done. Putting her off-center was the right choice, especially because there is that bit of cloud to fill in the space, and also the grasses rise to the left, balancing the image. Perfectly sharp, too; did you do any PP sharpening?

Best,
Dan

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• UlfE (5099)
• [2008-03-03 10:13]

Hi Kath,

Welcome back again. I could very well imagine why this one of your favourites. It is an absloutely fantastic shot of a wild animal. It feel like your very laying on the grass very close to in order to have the very best POV. Excellent clarity and natural colours. A superb job!

Cheers,

Ulf

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• OLF (1996)
• [2008-03-03 12:22]

Hi Kath,
Your crop is very good, the lion demale is very well positioned in the photograph.
Sharpness is very good also on the foreground (grass and lion). The flouted background is also perfect to highlight the subject.
A very good work!
Best regards,
Olivier

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• berek (21478)
• [2008-03-03 13:15]

is it real my friend ? magnificent picture with 300 mm :-) I just say congratulations. have a nice evening.
Burak Erek

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• coco (21732)
• [2008-03-03 13:27]
• [+]

Hi Kath.

Finally I was right about Simba.

If I ask about Nemo he will be the next one, isn't it?

Well, maybe I am wrong, but this one is a winner. And the WS too.
I love this one and it is much more than a "nice" picture.

Excellent work.
Carlos.

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• Tue (21853)
• [2008-03-03 13:45]

Hi Kath,
Wow, what a great close-up photo of this proud lioness. What an amazing photo with excellent sharpness and you composed the picture superbly. Just great. Thanks for the WS-photo as well!
Regards,
Lars

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• stego (12250)
• [2008-03-03 14:03]

Hi Kath,
One could think that you brought the lion to a studio to make this impressive portrait of "Her Royal Highness". It's perfect!
The WS is a very cute complement.
Regards, José.

•  
• xlgo (496)
• [2008-03-03 14:08]

Hi Kath

Words can't describe such a perfect picture.
Bravo!!!

Malcolm

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• Philippe (8159)
• [2008-03-03 14:27]

Hi, Kath. A very good wildlife picture. I like how the lioness stands out against the sky and I think the off-centre position of teh animal plays a great role in this. The sharpness and the details are excellent.

•  
• bakes888 (10615)
• [2008-03-03 23:49]

Hi Kath. You must have been reasonable close to catch this with a 300mm lens. Good sharpness and detail and nice soft background sky also. The composition is indeed well balanced also. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.
PS Nice family portrait in WS.

•  
• Graal (38082)
• [2008-03-04 0:10]

Hi Kath,
amazing portrait of lions family in 3 images. Great colours and quality of photos. I like it. Well done.
Gr., Aleksander

•  
• ChrisJ (52753)
• [2008-03-04 0:32]

Hi Kath

Good catch of the lioness, in this superb wildlife shot. Wonderful sharpness, colour, & dof. Tfs!

•  
• pasternak (11545)
• [2008-03-04 1:37]

Yes, she definitely looks gorgeous, a real queen!... excellent portrait, and nice classic cropping...

Cheers
Alexander

•  
• fabio_ts (10907)
• [2008-03-04 2:05]

Simply beautiful Kath, all works great in this composition, really well done, BRAVA+++

have a nice day,
Fabio.

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• Photo65Net (25680)
• [2008-03-04 2:33]

Kath,
Superb catch !
An amazing portrait, I like a lot the queen attitude, beautiful job,
Regards,
JB.

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• noborders (9472)
• [2008-03-04 5:24]
• [2]

Hi Kath, ... seeing this one as a 1st photo in your current gallery, I must tell that I'm feeling very impressed ! An incredible shot really, it looks as if she was posing for you - ok, you had a 300mm, but still... Then, the sharpness is impeccable !
The WS image is also wonderful and you could repost it another day, IMO !
Congratulations,
Best regards,
Cath.

•  
• fkokol (1094)
• [2008-03-04 5:53]

Stunning image.. Good angle to catch. Very impressive lion. beautiful colours and sharpnes.. greetings,

figen

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• Rosa (3245)
• [2008-03-04 8:21]

Hello Kath,
Magnifique POV de cette maman Lionne , bravo ca c'est une vue !une vue fort rapproché ! excellente lumières et une netteté parfaite.
Bravo , merci pour le partage,
Amitiés,
Rosa.

•  
• imrek (6760)
• [2008-03-04 10:27]

Hi Kath,

Wonderful catch! The quality is very good as composition, WS picture is superb too....good work!

regards,

imre

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• mortijo (9439)
• [2008-03-04 11:08]

Great animal portrait, well composed and with perfect sharpness.
Congratulations
John

•  
• jwmunro (5823)
• [2008-03-04 11:46]

Hello Kath -

This is one of my favorites! This majestic lioness on the bluff over seeing the plain below. Exposure, etc., is dead on the money. The only thing I see that could be improved is to reduce the sharpening artifact along the forehead and snout. Well done!

Why don't you send this into Practical Photography or Photography Monthly to see if they would publish or critique. I think this is really a worthy image.

Thank you for sharing.

John

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• vincz (16620)
• [2008-03-04 12:12]

Fabulous one.The feeling of being so close. Almost can feel the breathing. beautiful sky rendering.

•  
• jaywalker (8270)
• [2008-03-04 14:06]

Hi Kath, I am so jealous, this is a wonderful photo of this beautiful lion, the shallow DOF has assisted her to stand out brilliantly, your POV, overall composition &, the lighting are all excellent, not much else to say, just great, kind regards Wilson.

•  
• gilou530 (23008)
• [2008-03-04 14:08]

salut kath
excellent shoot, netteté de la bête en contre plongée, fallait pas avoir peur qu'il saute dessus le photographe
amitiés
gilbert

•  
• plimrn (14559)
• [2008-03-04 16:49]

Hi Kath,
I am AWE that you could have such a surpluss of lion pictures that you can afford to put the wonderful lioness & cubs picture in the WS. Of course you are right, the lioness compo is perfectly framed and very regal. It the WS photo she looks like she has been badly bitten by insects - of course this only shows up because of your excellent detail.
HLJ, Pat

•  
• Dyerco (4367)
• [2008-03-04 22:11]

WOW Kath
Great shot. Well composed. Exposure is spot on.Wonderful detail and an unobtrusive BG.
Phil

•  
• tellerka2008 (0)
• [2008-03-05 0:29]

Hi! Fantastic and excellent work. I'm very impressed :). best regards Renata

•  
• PixelTerror (66309)
• [2008-03-05 2:05]
• [+]

Hi Kath,
Ah, now you post your cat I see ;-))
What I like here is the low pov and the crop, the low pov to magnify the cat and the crop to give the impression it was shot at short distance, now in the "how close can you get" series, try once the 12-24 !
Have a nice day JY

•  
• wishlist (2520)
• [2008-03-05 3:48]

Hi Kath,
truly amazing shot, the quality you've delivered here is astonishing. Everything looks perfect..the off center of the queen, the razor sharp quality, the bright tones..wonderful, just wonderful! A trip to Serengeti is one of the dream of my life...maybe one day...
Thanks for sharing such a beaufitul picture.
Regards,

Igor

•  
• markstaples (15228)
• [2008-03-05 10:59]

Hi Kath
I'm soooo behind in my critiques. This is a wonderful portrait with superb framing. I like the nice low POV and the grass serving as good foreground interest. Lovely.
Best wishes
Mark

•  
• IgorDeleze (12747)
• [2008-03-05 12:21]

Hello,
WOW !
This is a stunning picture.
Fantastic quality and sharpness.
Greetings.
Igor

•  
• delic (5738)
• [2008-03-05 12:42]

Terrific shot, Kath. Really, I can't imagine a better one. The relatively low pov accentuates the might of the lion. Regards,
Hakan

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• guillaumejm (7171)
• [2008-03-05 14:13]

Hello kath,
Still alive???. You were so close or you have a powerfull zoom!. very clear and sharp portrait. Very good expression.
I guess an unforgettable picture.
Warm regards
JMarc

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• crckt (5357)
• [2008-03-05 16:42]

Hi Kath,
Oh My GOD!! What a fabulous shot this is! The queen of the jungle ! Love the composition, your shots of the Serengeti are truly spectacular. Would love to visit this place one day. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Regards,
Shaeri

•  
• pablominto (25793)
• [2008-03-05 23:52]

Hello Kath,
Those pair of teeth are really impressive!
Excellent composition, and the close-up work is well done from an effective point of view...
Good details in Mrs Lion!
Greetings,
Pablo -

•  
• devimeuxbe (42159)
• [2008-03-06 2:57]

Hi Kath
Very nice cropping. Excellent sharpness, beautifull portrait. The face of the lion is beautifull in front of the sky
Bertrand

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• gneufeld (7814)
• [2008-03-06 8:19]

Hi Kath,
Wow, what an awesome image of this amazing animal. The pose and expression, the point of view, the colors, and the incredible detail and texture make this a stunning winner. TFS. Gerald

•  
• rushfan2112 (2817)
• [2008-03-06 14:18]

Hi Kath,

An image to grace any website but, more likely, National Geographic or some such quality magazine or book. This is not cute or pretty - to me it is primitive and powerful. I'm not sure if I'd want to face that cat at such close quarters!

Excellent photo. Kind regards, Paul.

•  
• Angshu (21824)
• [2008-03-06 20:14]

Hello Kath
Absolutely brilliant! A wildlife shot even a NG photographer would be envious of. Well composed off-centre with the cub looking into the frame. I also like the grasses in the FG..perfect in all respects!
Regards
Angshu

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• danyy (46893)
• [2008-03-07 9:53]

Bonjour Kath,
voilà le félin qui apprait au dessus de la crête, le moment de la photo est parfaitement choisi et la DOF réduite donne un relief incroyable.
Les couleurs fauves, et oui, elles existent, sont parfaitement rendues ici.
Extra pour le cadrage.

Regards.
Daniel.

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• Didi (26602)
• [2008-03-08 5:47]

Hi Kath
I think with a 300 mn you were not so far from the animal.
No risks for you ?
You had a very good low position who gives a very fine result.
Cheers.

•  
• Emile (14732)
• [2008-03-08 7:36]

Hola Kath.
Excellent photo of the beautiful female lion, very good work with your low POV and 300mm lens. Great sharpness and details, the presence of the lion with the high grass in front and the grey sky produces a superb composition. Your WS is also a fantastic shot.
Well done.
Cheers.

•  
• josepmarin (23405)
• [2008-03-08 9:34]

Hello Kath,
Excellent "portrait" of this magnificent lioness, in a great work with the zoom to 300mm and a high quality of image, flood of details.
It is an impressive animal, and you have caught her perfectly, in an a bit off-centre setting that includes the grass and the sky with the clouds, in a graphical very harmonic and balanced set.
The complementary image in WS is very nice and dynamic, is nice to see also to the puppies.
It is a work for National Geographic, my friend!!
Best wishes,
Josep

•  
• bostankorkulugu (20584)
• [2008-03-08 23:27]

hey i have missed your latest tanzania shots and they are all incredible kath... and i think this is the best... she looks both so innocent and dangerious at the same time... sooo sharp and clear, almost 3D... are you a lion also?>:PPP...

cheers

korkut

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• Stepan (23522)
• [2008-03-10 11:05]

Excellent again. Hard to believe this is a wild and dangerous beast. Seems so cute and so... closed !!
In a certain way, the bad weather is ok to have contrast and cool tones.
Impressive.
Stéphane

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• hdl (6020)
• [2008-03-11 5:02]

What marvellous things one can do with a wide-angle lens... lol. No need to take unnecessary risks with those lovely kittens; I'm glad you took a tele here. Good choice to off-center the lioness.

•  
• scobert (5301)
• [2008-03-11 7:58]

Hi Kath,
Your impressive photographic skills paid off big time for you on this photo safari. You created a magnificent portrait of the lioness! I can feel her aphrehension and wariness as she is looking after her cubs and trying to protect them from her arch-enemy, the hyena. Superb composition and nice inclusion the grass and the soft clouds. Outstanding work! By the way, congratulations for your D300! You are going to love this camera!
Stan

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• jmcl (11215)
• [2008-03-12 18:40]

Hi Kath,

Tremendous .. Love the note about (and effect of) the composition .. very effective .. tremendous image .. what a wonderful trip ... the diffusion of the sky against her sharp outline is really striking .. wonderful image.

take care,

John

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• arunelis (86)
• [2008-03-14 2:28]

hi,
beautiful...
.a.

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• Docarmo (5116)
• [2008-03-15 5:58]

Hi Kath,
Fantastic shot! The focus is so well adjusted that we can see details from its skyn and fur. A very nice portrait! The off-centre composition is an excellent choice.
Mum and babies on the WS are very pleasant to see. The way the cub on the left is looking up at his mum is cute indeed!
Thanks for sharing,
MCV

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• Hellas (3498)
• [2008-03-16 0:44]

Hi Kath,
this is a wonderful portrait! These mammals are so beautiful and you did a great work from far away. The sharpness is excellent as well as the color. I like very much this lovely sky as a background.
Greetings from Greece,
Athanasios.

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• x-ray (77)
• [2008-03-16 16:47]

Hi Kath
This is one heck of a powerful shot!love the angle and light on the lioness. Hope she wasn't looking at you as the dailly meal! I wonder if you have tried converting this to B+W as I personally think it would be a sensational shot
Regards
Kenny

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• jusninasirun (3971)
• [2008-03-17 17:39]

Hello Kath. This is so stunning from the low angle with 300mm optics. The grass foreground adds impact to the superb pose of the queen. Excellent sharpness and details clearly written all over the image. Very well cropped by placing the subject on the right living her for some view in the frame. Excellent job very well done. Best regards. Jusni

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• BoisBarb (2141)
• [2008-04-06 5:35]

Sublime, un cliché magnifique avec cet expression formidable sur le visage de cette lionne, le reste du cadrage est excellent au ras de l'herbe avec le ciel en arrière plan
BoisBarb

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• NMaverick (553)
• [2008-04-10 6:20]

Very atmospheric, indeed. A beautiful catch and a beautiful pose. You are really lucky to have shot this.
TFS
Nick

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• jean11-3 (2013)
• [2008-05-11 12:33]

Hello Kath,I have just been perusing your gallery, especially your African trip.This one stands out, [if that is possible from such wonderful pictures!]I love the way you have composed the shot with the lioness looking to the left.
The POV is excellent.
No distractions from the bg either, so we can concentrate totally on the lioness.
Your notes always make a good read too,tfs.
Regards Jean.