The Lion and the Bee
What in the world did this bee think it could get by irritating a full grown Lion? lol!
So I saw Titus lounging in a usual spot, but he was agitated a bit. Then I saw him snapping at something. I thought it was biting flies, but it was this crazy Carpenter Bee who was buzzing him. Male Carpenter Bees can act very aggressively to discourage encroachsions on their nest. The funny thing is, they have nothing to back it up. Male Carpenter Bees have no stinger! The deterrent is that they look a lot like bumblebees, which, speaking from experience, most definitely have a potent sting.
I picked the image on the right because the bee was more visible against his mane, plus his lip snarl was pretty epic. After working on it for a couple of hours or so, and considering how well it worked as a story, I decided it wasn't enough. So I picked a capture from a few seconds later, worked on that a bit, and then composited it on the left side - so the two lion images looking toward the center would help direct the eye, plus one where the bee was more obviously the focus of Titus' steely gaze.
So to be clear - this is two images of the same lion (and bee) at Brookfied Zoo, taken ten seconds apart, then composited.
I wanted the snarl to be the main thing, and made the second image on the left subservient - but I think there is nice flow, and support between the two images.
The bee escaped unharmed a short while after this. I'm not sure the lion's attempts to eat it discouraged it much. haha
Unlike Titus, I think this is pretty funny! I hope you do too!
The Lion and the Bee
What in the world did this bee think it could get by irritating a full grown Lion? lol!
So I saw Titus lounging in a usual spot, but he was agitated a bit. Then I saw him snapping at something. I thought it was biting flies, but it was this crazy Carpenter Bee who was buzzing him. Male Carpenter Bees can act very aggressively to discourage encroachsions on their nest. The funny thing is, they have nothing to back it up. Male Carpenter Bees have no stinger! The deterrent is that they look a lot like bumblebees, which, speaking from experience, most definitely have a potent sting.
I picked the image on the right because the bee was more visible against his mane, plus his lip snarl was pretty epic. After working on it for a couple of hours or so, and considering how well it worked as a story, I decided it wasn't enough. So I picked a capture from a few seconds later, worked on that a bit, and then composited it on the left side - so the two lion images looking toward the center would help direct the eye, plus one where the bee was more obviously the focus of Titus' steely gaze.
So to be clear - this is two images of the same lion (and bee) at Brookfied Zoo, taken ten seconds apart, then composited.
I wanted the snarl to be the main thing, and made the second image on the left subservient - but I think there is nice flow, and support between the two images.
The bee escaped unharmed a short while after this. I'm not sure the lion's attempts to eat it discouraged it much. haha
Unlike Titus, I think this is pretty funny! I hope you do too!