Pixiq

When you shoot from a low perspective, an animal gains stature.  The lowered point of view also creates a much more intimate and compelling portrait.  This is true of pets and it's also true of ferocious wild animals like lions. 

This picture was taken at sunset on a game drive in Namibia.  The vehicles from which my photo tour group and I were shooting was literally surrounded by lions at a water hole, and that placed us several feet above the ground.  That meant that it necessary to shoot downward on the lions, and I didn't want to do that.  To get the picture you see here, I hung out the side of the vehicle and got as low as I possible could.  I used a 500mm f/4 lens which enabled me to fill the frame with the lion's face, and at the same time the large aperture gathered enough light so the shutter could be 1/640th of a second.  I used the image stabilization feature of the lens because I was forced to hand hold the heavy lens, and even with a relatively fast shutter, the IS game me added insurance I'd have a tack sharp picture.