Leopard

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Nikon D3s 200-400 with fill flash, ISO6400, SS1/320 at F5.0.

[Mark Wiseman]

Hi Vivaldo,
Amazing detail and a wonderful portrait. I wish I could go to the Sabi Sabi area to take images of these cats. Well done and TFS.
Best wishes,
Mark.

[Morkel Erasmus]

great detail in this one Vivaldo. I wish the eye was open - but it does look like it was "shaking" it's head a bit - what is the background to this image?

[Tom Graham]

Looks a lot to me that the cat is making a Flehmen face in order to better smell the environment? Maybe not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flehmen_response

Tom

[Marc Mol]

Agree on the detail, complimentary BG and expression here Viv, looks like she's been in the wars with that broken front canine.
TFS

[Hilary Hann]

Excellent detail and IQ from that high ISO. I really like the leaves and the soft background. The expression could be interpreted as many things, but makes for an interesting image.

[Rachel Hollander]

Vivaldo - I agree on the excellent detail, interesting facial expression and clean bg.

TFS,
Rachel

[v.p.nurdeen]

Hi Vivaldo,
Beautiful image great IQ at ISO 6400 !! and nice soft BG.
VPN

[Ken Watkins]

Vivaldo,

Nice expression as Morkel as allready mentioned the eye would have made it, but I have found that the closing of eyes seems almost mandatory with the opening of the mouth.

Not being a great user of flash, I am wondering why at such a high ISO with flash you still had such a relatively slow shutter speed?

[Brendon Cremer]

Great image with lovely detail as mentioned and a great bg. It may just be my screen but the cats coat looks a little too red/orange?

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Thanks for comments it's appreciated :S3: Morkel the BG was grass and bush. Ken I set my fash to fill light. It was very late afternoon and unfortunately had no light. I had to go with a very high ISO due to the poor light conditions unfortunately. I personally like using fill flash if I haven't got light to work with, it make the subject pop a little more. Brendon I see what you mean, will have a look at reducung red cast thanks.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

Tom you are right with assessment, the leopard was smelling the environment, the term Flehmen face is correct :S3:

[Pieter de Waal]

Expression nicely captured Vivaldo with great detail. I too like the inclusion of the leaves.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks guys. I thought it might be the Flehmen response but it does look like he was shaking his head too :w3

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Vivaldo, another good image, with character. As Brendon mentioned, reducing the slight cast will help, plus may open up some more detail. I do find the flash a little intrusive as the image certainly conveys this being used, perhaps a lesser setting may give you what you need, but not so evident in the image next time?

Glad you kept the vegetation in on this one. :bg3:

TFS
Steve

[Harshad Barve]

lovely image with excellent details
TFS