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The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:35 pm
by marc
Taken from a recent trip in September last year.
All taken with a monopod from vehicle.

Okavango swamp cat. Moremi GR in the delta.
D3 500VR 1/1000s ISO200@f/5.6

Image



The color of a Lion has been described as the color of Africa.
Moremi GR
D3 500VR 1/500s ISO200@f/4


Image


Lioness portrait Moremi GR
D3 500VR 1/350s ISO200@f/6.7

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Treed Lion Xakanaxa region.
D3 500VR 1/250s ISO200@f/8

Image


C & C most welcome

Cheers
Marc

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:02 pm
by sevencolours
Marc

I like the pose in number 4. The lion and the branches beautifully aligned. I can only presume you did not physically set it up yourself.

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:28 pm
by whitey
Very nice. Heading to Botswana later in the year. Needing some new glass, probably not 500VR though :shock:

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:05 pm
by chrisk
marc wrote:
The color of a Lion has been described as the color of Africa.
Moremi GR
D3 500VR 1/500s ISO200@f/4


superb. bucketloads of atmosphere.
this could only be fully appreciated freakin huge on canvas.

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:41 pm
by natskis
Fantastic shots!

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:47 pm
by wendellt
great images
that 2nd one has the best composition
excellent work

tell us more about the trip

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:01 am
by Big V
Just superb. It is so nice to see fine shots of these wonderful animals in the wild. I can see why you keep going back.

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:08 am
by surenj
2nd for National Geographic. :cheers:

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:25 am
by colin_12
These are all great Marc.
I like most of the others think that #2 of the young male is the better of this batch.
Envious :cheers:

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:25 am
by aim54x
Marc, I cant wait to see more from this trip.

I have to agree....#2 is awesome, it would look great as a giant print/canvas/magazine spread. I just love how most of the foreground and background just fade off bringing the lion into direct attention. So powerful!

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:12 pm
by marc
Appreciate the comments guys, many thanks.


whitey wrote:Very nice. Heading to Botswana later in the year. Needing some new glass, probably not 500VR though :shock:

Hi Whitey
When/where in Botswana are you going?
If Nikon ever get there act together the replacement 80-400VR would be nice. :wink:


Rooz wrote:
marc wrote:
The color of a Lion has been described as the color of Africa.
Moremi GR
D3 500VR 1/500s ISO200@f/4


superb. bucketloads of atmosphere.
this could only be fully appreciated freakin huge on canvas.

Thanks Chris
Not quite large canvas, but have managed some nice 18X12's including that one. BTW, some impressive nature images on your Flickr site. :wink:


wendellt wrote:great images
that 2nd one has the best composition
excellent work

tell us more about the trip

Thanks Wendell
This was a 24 day/21 nights (in camp) safari, that started out with a 10 night mobile camping with MassonSafaris here:
http://massonsafaris.com/index.htm
Highly recommended! Just my wife and I and our guide of 27 years experience, Ewan and 3 assistants in a backup vehicle, pitching tents at private campsites each night in magic locations like the Delta, Xakanaxa, Savuti & Chobe regions. Witnessing 2 sub adult male Lions predating on a Sitatunga antelope, an extremely rare occurrence and something never seen by Ewan or many others before. Getting our vehicle flooded in a river crossing with myself carrying my camera over my head in neck high water! :shock: You know,....... fun stuff like that. :D

Then on to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve with 3 nights @ Deception Valley Lodge here:
http://www.dvl.co.za/activities.html Excellent trackers, with great birding and Lion & Leopard/cubs.

And finishing up with 8 nights in the Moremi Game Reserve@Mapula Lodge here:
http://www.mapulalodge.com/ Where the highlights were witnessing a Zebra birth and resulting 10 Wild Dog pack interaction and earlier seeing them take down an impala (low light distance, unfortunately). Great Leopard images in a tree @sunset.


Cheers
Marc

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:42 pm
by zafra52
Very nice and natural pictures. Great work!

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:24 pm
by DebT
Marc,
you've certainly captured a wonderful experience in sensational style - thanks for sharing
DebT

Re: The Lions of Botswana

PostPosted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:21 pm
by radar
I do love that 2nd one :up:

André