Lions

[botspur]

When tourists come to Africa on their great once in a lifetime safari they naturally want to see lions in the wild and who wouldn’t? They want to capture that Nat Geo moment of the thrill of the hunt and kill. Problem is when they are lucky enough to eventually find lions 90% of the time lions are asleep. Lions sleep for about twenty hours a day and mainly hunt at night. I’ve been in Africa for over forty years and never witnessed a kill being made. So when we find lions we make the best of what is available. We found this group of cubs very late one afternoon, they’d ventured out of the bush where they’d spent most of the day……and you guessed it “sleeping”. After a few inquisitive looks at us they settled down in the open to………and you guessed it “sleep”. But seriously – what a magnificent animal, lion cubs, apart from that give me a cuddle look, have those beautiful spotted markings that they eventually grow out of.
C&C welcomed

#1


#2

[Steve S]

A couple of really nice shots you have there , clive. The first shows some really nice detail. I think you nailed their sleepy behavior perfectly.

[jprzybyla]

Great images Clive. Nice lighting and detail. It is encouraging to see the lion cubs with wildlife all over the world being threatened.

[Mike Buckley]

I like the warmth and detail of the first one and the social nature of the second one. Very nice!

[ucci]

Well captured, sharp shots, very nicely cropped, showing lots of warmth and a feeling of friendly family peace; but not quite enough to make me try for a cuddle!

[HMW12]

Great photos. Love the warm tones. Were there any adults around or were these guys/gals old enough to be on their own?

[ggt]

Kitties!!!! Very nice shots. I'm so jealous!

[botspur]

Hi All, Many thanks for the comments and time taken to view.

Helen, there were two females lying up in the bush behind the cubs but all we got was the flick of an ear or tail.

[jeeperman]

Well done Clive, really nice lighting in that first one. Envious I am.

[botspur]

Hi Paul, thank you.

[Donald]

I've been sitting just looking at these for a little while.

They're both wonderful images, but if I may just take this one.

The more I look at it the more impressed I am. It is, I think, a tremendous image.

The lighting is outstanding.

If you had lifted each cat up and placed it in the frame you couldn't have got the arrangement better. Each of of them presents great interest in its own right, but as a group it just becomes a magnificent arrangement.

And then there is the background. Just that lighter front edge to the grass and then we disappear into the darkness beyond. That tree trunk and large branch - the light on it: subtle yet just lifting that area of the frame.

A superb bit of work. My compliments.

[botspur]

Hi Donald, as usual your input is most informative and many thanks for the time taken to view. I also prefer the second one better because of the light and its effect and the added interest as you stated.

[WJT]

Clive you have indeed been blessed to see this pride in such glowing light. Well done with these pictures, they are beautiful.

[botspur]

Hi Wayne, many thanks. This time we were lucky, right place - right time.