Approaching leopard

[Chris van Rooyen]

I captured this image on my recent trip to Ululapa Lodge in Sabi Sands, just as the light was starting to fade. What a place for leopard photography:eek:

Camera Model: NIKON D3S
Date/Time: 28 May 2011 16h40
Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec
Aperture: 6.3
Exposure mode: Manual
Exposure compensation: -1/3
Flash: Off
Metering mode: Multi-segment
ISO: 3200
Lens: 500mm

[Ofer Levy]

Another beauty Chris!
Just a slight boost in colours to make it sing....:w3 Usually I am not crazy about a squarish crop but it works OK in here IMHO.

[peter delaney]

Chris
I think u have got the leopard bug!

Another lovely image, agree about slight boost, I prefer the OP BKG and Ofers reworked leopard ...

[Dumay de Boulle]

Gorgeous image of a gorgeous animal. Like the repost, but maybe somewhere between the two. Shooting angle is fantastic.

[Wynand van Wyk]

Stunning capture! Agree with somewhere between the two. Super angle and detail! Very well done.:S3:

[Morkel Erasmus]

Nice one Chris! I have to stop looking at the ridiculous ISO settings you get these images at :2eyes2::bg3:

Ululapa...mmhmm...might have to contact you as I've been wanting to go there (next to Leopard Hills right?).

I also think Ofer's reposted leopard (perhaps yellow toned down from that just a tad) with your BG is a good compromise...:w3

[Vivaldo Damilano]

I prefer the colours in Ofer's repost. This is another winner, lovely low angle, raised paw and open mouth.:cheers:

[Andrew Aveley]

great point of view and subject eye contact :)

[Sid Garige]

Excellent shooting angle Chris. Very nice image.

[Hilary Hann]

Great IQ at ISO3200, love the POV and leopard pose.

[Harshad Barve]

This is simply outstanding image
TFS

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks guys:S3: I guess its a matter of personal taste, personally I prefer the less saturated version, although both versions work.

[Sagar Gosavi]

Great Eye Contact here and i shall too prefer the slight color saturated version ..
Glorious shot anyways.

Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Sagar Gosavi

[Steve Kaluski]

Like you Chris, I too prefer the more muted colours, but there might also be some mileage perhaps in combining parts from the two versions? Pose, angle, position, great, however i just wonder what this might have looked like as a portrait format, or landscape where the leopard was more say, to the RHS. An excellent image illustrating how good high ISO is on the Nikon.

TFS
Steve

[Marc Mol]

The low perspective and intense stare on this male (?) are first class Chris.:cheers:
Were you out of the vehicle or lying very flat?
I prefer the OP also as Ofer's saturated post has left this leopard with a Tiger orange colour, this boost only happens when lit by flash or spottie.:w3
TFS

[Chris van Rooyen]

Thanks Marc, no I was in an open Land Rover. You are right about the spotlight/colour issue, I think I may have used a bit of spotlight on this guy.

[Rudi van den Heever]

Stunning detail and the open mouth so adds!:w3