photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Two: On Safari -- expressing the essence of nature > Mating pair, Chichele pride, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, 2006
previous | next
09-JAN-2006

Mating pair, Chichele pride, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, 2006

I observed eight matings involving three sets of lions within the Chichele pride. Lions mate over a period of a week, so we could return to them again and again over several days. Although they changed locations constantly, the roars that accompanied mating allowed us to easily locate them. I made this image within moments after a mating session. I organized the image around the diagonal flow of the lioness’ back, which allows me to place the male’s head in the top left corners of the frame and the female’s head in the lower right corner. The female seems to make eye contact with us, while the male only has eyes for her.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1/125s f/5.0 at 88.8mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Phil Douglis27-Jan-2006 07:05
I am flattered by your mention of Henri Rousseau, Denis -- he is one of my favorite primitive painters whose work was also surrealistic. He uses lions in a number of his paintings, notably the "The Dream." In "The Dream," the eyes of the two lions are important, because they are fixed on either the viewer, or on the nude figure that is the subject of the painting. In my image, the eyes of the two lions are also fixed on either the viewer, or on the lioness that is my subject. In both the painting and this image, a layer of vegetation shields the lions, giving them a context from which to peer at us. I have always loved "The Dream" and perhaps was subconsciously influenced by it as I made this photograph. That, of course, is a function of art itself -- to create a template for the imagination of the viewer to build his or her own art.
Phil Douglis26-Jan-2006 18:32
Thanks, Ramma, for noting the power of the eyes in this image. (I also refer to the eyes in my response to Denis' mention of Henri Rousseau's paintings below.) You say this is the most powerful image in the entire gallery and I won't dispute that. I can't assess the power of my own images in order of effectiveness -- I am too close to them. But at least we know how much this image means to you. Thank you.
Ramma 26-Jan-2006 17:13
The most powerful image of the entire Gallery. The eyes make a hell of an impact.
Denis Bredelet 26-Jan-2006 15:53
The two animals seem arranged as in a Rousseau painting, with a few fresh green leaves as crown.
Carol E Sandgren26-Jan-2006 00:15
Almost a formal portrait of these two! You can feel the emotions in each face.
Phil Douglis24-Jan-2006 23:32
Thanks, Mo, for your appraisal. I don't know how "careful" lions are regarding their courtship. Mating is instinctual and random. There is no fidelity involved. But in this image, I tried to express the feelings of the moment. She has turned away from the male to look at us. The male, meanwhile, still has his eyes on her. There is a tension in this image that makes it compelling.
monique jansen24-Jan-2006 15:09
The seemingly careful courtship appeals to me
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment