Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Posing Leopard

  1. #1
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
    Posts
    820
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default Posing Leopard

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    A young female leopard perched in a tree as the sun rises behind her. We had a wonderful time with this youngster as she jumped in and out and all around this tree behaving like a typical eager and playful young cat, honing her skills and showing off her agility much to our delight.


    • Camera NIKON D3S
    • Focal Length 290mm
    • Shutter Speed 1/640 sec
    • Aperture f/5.6
    • ISO 1250
    • Flash SB900 EV -0.7

  2. #2
    BPN Member vishaljadhav's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Pune , India
    Posts
    1,711
    Threads
    94
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Truly a interesting composition and a great thought
    The sun rising creates that orange on the side makes it special , i love that
    in a perfect world the leopard would be looking at you, however it is not bothering me here, looks beautiful

  3. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Brendon, love the pose, warm light and overall comp, seems well balanced, the central position works and having a visible whole tail is great. I would look to just perhaps tone down the bright highlights, just a fraction IMHO, but still retaining the look & feel. I would though just 'brush in' some of the warm colour to ease the highlight on the LH edge of the curvature of the bow, that's the one the catches my eye, but again just personal preference. Might like to work on two images & combine, but at the RAW stage to ensure IQ? The blacks in the coat are very clipped and I wonder if this was expanded during PP? The subtle flash worked as is not as evident as previous, cool and did not distract the subject by the look.

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

  4. #4
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Sri Lanka
    Posts
    133
    Threads
    15
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    The Golden light and the whiskers being so sharp makes this a very nice image. Toning down the bright highlights mentioned by Steve will take this image to another level.

    Hiran

  5. #5
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    14,320
    Threads
    929
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Brendon - I like the lines here created by the tail and the head position. Nice, warm morning light and the flash is subtle. Good suggestions by Steve for dealing with the highlights. I hope you'll post more from your encounter with this playful youngster.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  6. #6
    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    5,444
    Threads
    444
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Agree with Rachel on the lines of head and tail, very nice. The whole image has a nice "under the canopy" feel.

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
    Posts
    820
    Threads
    135
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks very much all for your great comments and advice.

  8. #8
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    7,738
    Threads
    455
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I am beginning to suspect Brendon of breeding these leopards in his backyard They are posing so nicely for him, they always seem unperturbed by his presence...
    Brendon, I just love that golden light you captured there, makes me think of a sunset, the last light, so warm and gentle. Beautiful image, the words that come to my mind right now are in fact " aesthetically pleasing".

    Kind regards
    Gabriela Plesea

  9. #9
    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    South Luangwa, Zambia
    Posts
    701
    Threads
    26
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Lovely image. Your fill flash has just lifted it all a little, but not overwhelmed the image. I might try to brush in some warmth to the neck and head of the leopard too as that's the only area that shows that you used flash at all. If only Canons could balance flash as nicely! Perhaps I just have some stuff to learn!
    Ed

  10. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I love the balance of lighting, personally, between the rim-light and subtle fill flash.
    Great pose and setting, and the lovely BG bokeh rounds of a wonderful image.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics