Lion Around

After play there comes a time of rest, and contemplating, regaining composure and energy in preparation for play again. This is once again Maji and Anga, pressed up next to each other after the sneak attack. Relaxing under the overcast sky as the heat of the day slowly begins to ramp up. Beautiful animals, their spots still apparent on their fur, even as they grow and mature into the large cats they are destined to be. It’s always a privilege to observe such gorgeous animals, even if for a moment. Not long after this I walked away, feeling refreshed and excited for the rest of my day, interestingly enough, this was the last photo I took during the trip to the zoo that came back useable, and even still I walked away with a smile on my face, rather than a feeling of disappointment.

There’s very little I can say here now that I haven’t said before, but there is at least one point I can drive home now, and one I feel is important. One can indeed spend all day watching a single enclosure, but you really shouldn’t. Despite that urge telling you to stay, know when your moment is done, your moment of excitement, walk away with a smile, not a feeling of disappointment that you didn’t see more. Remember, always remember, you are free to wander, free to leave, free to return, these animals in their enclosures are not. Limit the stress you bring to them when and where you can.

The edit here is the same as the rest of the zoo photos from this trip, I cropped it differently here, but I prepared for that in advance. I knew what the final shot should look like, and gave myself the room I needed for the crop. Understand that if you’re going to crop, frame it for the crop on the scene, don’t try and stuff an image into the format after the fact. It can take a little practice to get it right, but once you get it, it’s always well worth the effort.

Until Next Time!

Aperture: f5
ISO: 250
SS: 1/250th
Focal: 183mm

Fujinon 100-400mm