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Thread: Leopard in canopy

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Leopard in canopy

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    This one has been kicking around for a while as a few of you know, but this is a few frames on, although I'm about 98% happy. In fact those than know Grant might have seen the same leopard on his FB page! This was shot at a ridiculous angle, both in terms of the vehicle position and myself, not ideal by any means. I quite like the spots of light blue coming through to help break up the BKG and convey the canopy scene.

    Steve
    Subject: Female leopard in tree canopy (Panthera pardus)
    Location: Botswana
    Camera: Canon MKIV
    Lens: 500f/4 HH
    Exposure: 1/400s at f/5.6 ISO800 0 stop compensation
    Crop: Cropped very slightly for presentation, about 10% (original capture horizontal)
    Subject distance 16m


    Last edited by Peter Kes; 12-07-2012 at 07:44 PM.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Steve - this has your usual excellent IQ and clarity. The comp really shows how they peek out of the canopy. I'm going to take a page out of your own playbook and suggest that you darken the greens. It really makes her pop even more.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    LOL Rachel, good for you.

    OK, originally I had gone darker, which in turn lost the vibrancy and more importantly, the greens can go a little 'muddy' in colour, greens can at times, be a real pain! Also I have to make the occasional change/adjustment from, 'as presented' on screen, to 'printed', as you sometimes cannot match what you see and printing has it's limitations too, a bit like converting from RGB to CMYK. What I could do is just apply a small vignette just to draw the eye in.

    Thanks.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    I love the subtle colors on the leopard, complemented by its sharpness. The greens frame the subject in such a lovely way and the blue bits of sky are icing on the cake. Stunning!

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    Forum Participant christopher galeski's Avatar
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    Beautiful portrait,sharp,and the look in the cats face is magic,you have not taken this in Yorkshirewell done.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks Diane, Christopher I think all my stuff up there has migrated over to you, although I did have a fantastic sighting of a Kestrel taking down it's prey less than 8ft away! Sadly too close for the 500.
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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Another lovely portrait from this sighting/setting, Steve.
    Love the soft light and gaze. I would be tempted to tone all the brights down a wee bit, but as you say avoid the tones becoming 'muddy'
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Soft side of an apex hunter. Wonderful image Steve.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Hey Steve,
    I like the position of the leopard between the FG and BG leaves, gives it a sense of depth for me. Curious about the time this was taken. Looks a touch cool (shade contributing no doubt) yet the pupils are sized for bright light. Early morning looking out into the wide open spaces perhaps?

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks folks, appreciate the contributions.

    Steve it appears it was shot 10.41.43am, so the light was getting quite bright. We had tracked and followed her for almost 20 mins when she disappeared into thick bush. Although hesitant we did follow on the basis that she was not harassed or showed signs of distress. We found her climbing a tree and then into the canopy. The vehicle was on an incline (termite mound) so the angle, plus the angle of shooting up was tough and HH the gear was not for long between breathers, so... It could be, if I had planned it right the light was behind me, but into her face as she looked out which they would, like us, perhaps shied away from? But your assumption is probably correct.

    BTW will we see any posts from Mr Canuel?
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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Thanks for the additional info Steve. Always nice to hear a little about the details of a capture. As for posts, nothing interesting from me. Just the same old grazers, a few rodents, and a couple of birds.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Canuel View Post
    As for posts, nothing interesting from me. Just the same old grazers, a few rodents, and a couple of birds.
    They're never boring in the way you capture and present them, Steve...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    They're never boring in the way you capture and present them, Steve...
    I totally agree, plus your contributions to images and the Forum is greatly valued.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Hi Steve
    Super portrait... would not worry about the spots in BKG they do not detract in anyway .. sometimes we can be over analytical with our work..

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve,
    lovely portrait of this elegant looking kitty in a very nice surrounding.
    The foliage is a good contrast to the cat, but i would push it a bit more in the mid tones , like you did with Caroles lion .
    The cat looks overall a tad too light for my taste and compared to the foliage ,colors look a bit flat.

    But as you always say, PP.

    Like this one

    TFS Andreas

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