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Thread: Leopard Cub

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Leopard Cub

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    Another one taken in the Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa of the then 8 month old male cub.

    Canon 5D3
    70-200 II @ 135mm
    1/2000
    f3.5 (in hindsight I should have gone for more dof)
    ISO 800
    EC +1 (overcast light and heavy shade from the tree)
    HH from safari vehicle, cropped to vertical, luminosity mask, levels, curves, selective color adjustments and sharpened in CS6.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel
    Last edited by Rachel Hollander; 04-23-2013 at 10:00 AM. Reason: forgot luminosity mask in description

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, like the POV here and you were certainly very lucky with your sightings to date on this one.

    Always difficult when images are backlit, but again you did extremely well. Yes DOF could have been better, however..., can you check, the paws and ears look sharp, but the nose area looks soft, as if you haven't applied any sharpening, or is it my eyes? I would perhaps experiment with adding say 4-8 brightnes on the face just to lift it a fraction, better in Curves, but longer to explain. I might also explore the sliders in Saturation just to lift the foliage a little, just to add a bit of 'colour' depth.

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

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    Striking, and enough DOF for me -- I'm amazed you got this much at 3.5. A little saturation would make it even more dramatic.

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    I like the stare & you did well with the difficult lighting Rachel. Nice shot.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Beautiful image Rachel. As Steve said with the paws and nose, I have the same impression, but wear glasses, might be wrong!!
    You really did great with the backlight

    Have a great day

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Well captured image considering the circumstances, Rachel, and PP overall looks good.

    I feel the leopard and foliage could do with some more warmth/saturation to bring the image to life.

    On similar images, I have tried double processing the raw file for the highlights to get a different WB for the subject. Maybe worth a though.t.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks everybody for the kind comments and the suggestions. Here's a repost with the suggested tweaks. I also applied another round of USM selectively to the nose area.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, yep I think the tweaks worked, it looks really nice now. The subtlety in the Saturation tweaks just brings it up as the OP look flat, it just a matter of balancing things. The sharpening also looks good, especially now in the 'nose' area, which was my concern.

    I did note it in the OP, but didn't comment, however it hasn't been flagged so I will ask RHS as viewed, why is there a colour change running down the shoulder, about 25mm long x 7mm deep, just check the RAW, might just be a masking issue perhaps, and easily addressed?

    cheers
    Steve
    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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    Hi Steve - thanks, I actually saw that too when processing and went back to the raw before posting, it's that way in the raw too so I don't know if it is a matter of the cub getting his coat/colors as he ages or if it is just the angle somehow.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks, it's just the light and perhaps a compressed area giving that 'saturated' look, appreciate the update.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Sweet little face. Suggestions noted a bove. My only issue was the distracting oof leaves in front. I think you did great with the backlit exposure.

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    Love the re-post. Looks like it was a great encounter.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel, the RP looks great. I saw already in your OP the red/orange color on the edge of the Leopard's neck/shoulder. Was wondering as well, but thought I better be quiet before sounding stupid. But now I do ask, curiosity kills the cat, I assume :))
    The Leopards you post from Timbavati are all in this color like this one. I am wondering, I have not encountered yet a Leopard with that color, waiting for that day As well have never seen leopard cubs, sadly

    Have a great day

    Ciao

    Anette

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Cheryl, Lyle and Anette. Anette - my leopard images from the Timbavati are mostly of the same 2 leopards, the mother (Ntombi) and her then 8 month old cub. The colors are consistent because they are of the same animals. In my experience, leopards' coloring can vary by leopard and by age as well.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Thank you very much Rachel for the color info. It is interesting that in this cub the red/orange comes out a bit.

    Have a great day

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Very nice repost. I am envious of your leopard sightings/images !

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    Looks like someone wants to play. Nicely done with the bright BG sky. Repost is subtle but improves an already nice image.

  19. #18
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Nancy and Steve

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    Lovely pose, Rachel....seems like this duo of mother and daughter has given a good show!
    Repost looks great too.
    TFS

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    Hi Rachel. Late here
    I like the POV. I saw something else in my mind, and ran with it.
    VERY quick job. WDYT?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    I'm not Rachel, but I like it! Dramatic emphasis on the cat.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel - not my cuppa as you say, too extreme in the brights for my taste but maybe b&w is a possibility.

    Thanks,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Like I said, a vision I had, and I drew on Peter's high key zebra image for inspiration - I think this should look great in print...
    Morkel Erasmus

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