Lady Leopard Luck...

[Arthur Morris]

This image was created on August 8th, 2013 with the Todd Pod-mounted Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM lens and the Canon EOS-1D X. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +1 stop as framed: 1/160 sec. at f/4 in Manual mode.


Central sensor (Surround)/AI Servo Rear Focus on the Leopard's face and re-compose. Click here if you missed the Rear Focus Tutorial. Click on the image to see a larger version.


On the morning of August 8 we left the lodge at 6am our gear loaded in five open roofed vans set up with three roof hatches. We were in search of the Leopard family. Veteran Sal driver spotted one of the 7-month old cubs high in a tree. It was un-photographable. Next veteran driver Jamesie spotted the other cub in a tree. Some folks photographed this animal though the situation was less than ideal. Then moments later veteran driver Nico spotted the mother high in a tree with a Thompson's Gazelle. We got in position and made a few bad images, tight shots with a big branch right across the animal's chest.


After 15 minutes the big lady cat lifted her prey, climbed halfway down the tree, and posed on the perfect branch. It was something that you could never have even dreamed of.... All of the vans were skillfully positioned. We spent the next three hours and a good part of the afternoon game drive photographing the family. Though I have zillions of keeper images that show all each of the Leopards chowing down on their meal, the image above was, with momma's regal pose, my very favorite.

As for the image, don't be shy; all comments welcome.

[Tom Graham]

Guessing you were in Tanzania, maybe Serengeti?

Nice pose of leopard, regal as you say, can see tail, and tail within the tree branch not dangling in the sky, can see both eyes looking some outward at something, both rear paws in good position and front paws obviously under the gazelle. Gazelle also in great position, head and horns nicely visible.
But two things bother me, I don't care for a white background when viewed on a monitor, on a print it is ok. But that's probably just me.
The crop, I can't decide about. Would I like to see more of the tree on right side or less of it? I think a bit more so that the tree is one continuous object on right side? And do believe I would crop some from left side.

Would love to see more from your safari.

Tom

[Russell Johnson]

Artie, I like the comp and pose with the kill - with the white background, could look to convert to B&W.

I do feel the leopard is a touch warm, and I did notice there is no Srgb tag which could be affecting image for web presentation.

[Arthur Morris]

Guessing you were in Tanzania, maybe Serengeti?

Nice pose of leopard, regal as you say, can see tail, and tail within the tree branch not dangling in the sky, can see both eyes looking some outward at something, both rear paws in good position and front paws obviously under the gazelle. Gazelle also in great position, head and horns nicely visible.
But two things bother me, I don't care for a white background when viewed on a monitor, on a print it is ok. But that's probably just me.
The crop, I can't decide about. Would I like to see more of the tree on right side or less of it? I think a bit more so that the tree is one continuous object on right side? And do believe I would crop some from left side.

Would love to see more from your safari.

Tom

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Seronera, Serengeti, Tanzania.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Artie - Russell is correct that there is no embedded color profile so there is a shift in color when imported into PS and the image there is warmer. Personally I would reduce the reds and yellows in the tree trunk and to a lesser extent in the leopard. Nice regal pose with an elegant line through the tail. The position of the impala kill adds to the image. Sounds like a great sighting.

TFS,
Rachel

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Rachel,

How's this one?

[Arthur Morris]

ps: the colors are identical in both panes from here. The sRGB profile should be embedded in the repost. Is it? Are you guys seeing different colors?

[Loi Nguyen]

Artie, I'm seeing this on my iPad, the colors look the same for me. I agreed with Rachel that there is a red cast in the leopard and tree trunk. I like the comp as is. Not an easy comp due to the large tree trunks. It was an obvious overcast day and you handled the exposure perfectly with the white BG and the leopard well exposed. Loi

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Loi. I am not seeing much of a red cast anywhere but I ran an average blur color balance to make it more neutral. How does this repost look? Same questions on the sRGB profile being embedded....

[Rachel Hollander]

Artie - Both reposts now have an sRGB profile embedded. I think somewhere between the 2 rp for me colorwise would work best.

TFS,
Rachel

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks. But here is the main question: are the colors in Pane 1 and Pane 6 the same?

Also, just for the record books:

1- the RGB values for all parts of the tree in the most neutral version all show more R than G and B :).
2_ I prefer the warmer version :).

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Artie - not sure if colors in 1 and 6 are the same if brought into PS and checked with an eyedropper but they don't look the same in Firefox. I should have been clearer in my last post, I like the neutral version of the tree in pane 9 and would have gone somewhere in between for the warmth/color of the leopard.

Rachel

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks. I would expect 1 and 6 to be different in some browsers. They are identical in Google Chrome.

[Loi Nguyen]

Artie, I used Google Chrome and 1 and 6 look similar. I'm with Rachel, prefer the neutral of the tree in 9, but a warmer color for the leopard.

Loi

[Diane Miller]

Panes 1 and 6 are identical for me in Firefox, with full color management set. Since the untagged image in pane 1 was converted to sRGB, it should be assumed to be that by even non-color-managed browsers and should display the same as the tagged one (#6).

PS is a different matter: When I open the first one, without a profile, in PS, I have it set to ask about profile mismatches (Edit > Color Settings > Color Management Policies section, the 3 check boxes) and when I answer to Assign sRGB, it looks identical to the browser display. If I check Don't Color Manage, it looks horribly orange.

Having color management policies set in both your browser and PS is very important. There is a lot of confusing information about it but the bottom line is simple.

In PS check those 3 boxes (the choices above them are just the defaults that will come up, which you can change when they do), and for Firefox check out this link:
http://www.metalvortex.com/blog/2012/03/16/831.html

It's simpler than it looks. Type about:config and then gfx in the Search box to narrow down the list. You want these two parameters set, which, the last time I looked, was not the default.
gfx.color_management.enablev4 set to true
gfx.color_management.mode set to 1

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Artie, having an almost pristine BKG gives the images a nice, clean & fresh look and has helped avoided those mottled foliage BKGs that can sometimes be troublesome, although Rachel has done well with her recent images. I love the posture and the way you managed to get the whole tail in view, curling over the trunk, plus as Tom mentioned, great placement of the kill too. Artie I'm away and using the MacBook pro, so can only make a gut feeling on colour, but I prefer the last posting, if that helps. Personally I might just crop a little off the RHS to lose the vertical trunk, but it might then be a little too tight, however not a deal breaker.

TFS
Steve

[Arthur Morris]

Panes 1 and 6 are identical for me in Firefox, with full color management set. Since the untagged image in pane 1 was converted to sRGB, it should be assumed to be that by even non-color-managed browsers and should display the same as the tagged one (#6).

PS is a different matter: When I open the first one, without a profile, in PS, I have it set to ask about profile mismatches (Edit > Color Settings > Color Management Policies section, the 3 check boxes) and when I answer to Assign sRGB, it looks identical to the browser display. If I check Don't Color Manage, it looks horribly orange.

Having color management policies set in both your browser and PS is very important. There is a lot of confusing information about it but the bottom line is simple.

In PS check those 3 boxes (the choices above them are just the defaults that will come up, which you can change when they do), and for Firefox check out this link:
http://www.metalvortex.com/blog/2012/03/16/831.html

It's simpler than it looks. Type about:config and then gfx in the Search box to narrow down the list. You want these two parameters set, which, the last time I looked, was not the default.
gfx.color_management.enablev4 set to true
gfx.color_management.mode set to 1

Thanks, but I am a computer dummy :)

[Brendon Cremer]

Dispite the colour issues, this is a great image. I too feel a little more tree on the right will help the framing and comp a little. The white bg for me is not a deal breaker but maks me think this image would work really well as nice punchy B&W, WDYT?

[Markus Jais]

Great shot of the beautiful cat. I like the thick branch of the tree, the visible prey and the fantastic look on her face.

Markus

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Arthur, a beautiful shot. Also agree that it is nice that the tail is contained within the branch. The bloody bits are a nice touch and I prefer the original post best. I too am no computer whizz but did you use CS6 for this one...I have noticed that CS6 on my computer for some strange reason periodically 'resets' itself and I have to set things up again...including having to recheck the sRGB box in Save for Web.

[edwardselfe]

I agree with Brendon that this is crying out for a B&W conversion. I will go with the first image that you posted as it looks sharpest to me on my screen and have a go. For me, having watched a lot of leopards, her facial expression is a little agitated. I'm not suggesting that you caused it, and leopards can always decide to move off if they don't like being observed (and they often do move off) but just that it affects the image in my eyes. Do you have any where she's looking more at ease?
Ed

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Edward. I have been too busy to try a B&W conversion but I do not like your version mostly because of the gradient in the sky.

While I am no Leopard expert I would bet my life that this animal was in no way agitated by the many safari vans in the vicinity. This animal is a famously cooperative one. She and her cubs have been walking right next to safari vans since they were born in February. Throughout the day there were many hyenas coming and going. They caught her attention.

I have been doing nature photography for 30 years and it always amazes me when either photographers or others who were not there suggest disturbance or other improper behavior that simply did not exist.

[edwardselfe]

Yikes - you do make it hard to offer suggestions.

Apologies if you misunderstood me - I meant exactly the opposite. I said that she 'looked' a little agitated, and tried to explain that I wasn't suggesting that you caused it. Leopard's expressions change all the time and sometimes you just get a moment when they don't look so appealing. I simply suggested that you might have an image in your zillions of keepers where she might have her ears forward and her face slightly more front-on.

Sorry, I don't know where the gradient in the sky came from, but I won't bother you with another attempt.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: after noticing the gradient in the sky in the B&W I noticed it for the first time in all of my posted images as well....

[Arthur Morris]

Yikes - you do make it hard to offer suggestions.

Apologies if you misunderstood me - I meant exactly the opposite. I said that she 'looked' a little agitated, and tried to explain that I wasn't suggesting that you caused it. Leopard's expressions change all the time and sometimes you just get a moment when they don't look so appealing. I simply suggested that you might have an image in your zillions of keepers where she might have her ears forward and her face slightly more front-on.

Sorry, I don't know where the gradient in the sky came from, but I won't bother you with another attempt.

As I said before I read your 2nd post, I did not notice the gradient in my images but now I do :).

As for the "Yikes" that is good. But most folks reading your comments about the animals would infer that there was at least a chance that the photographers were the cause of it. By mentioning that you were not suggesting that the we caused it, many folks would make the assumption that we did. It is admittedly a topic where my skin is too thin.

IAC, thanks again for the B&W repost and for opening my eyes to the gradient in the sky.

[Arthur Morris]

Hi Again Edward,

After reading your reply more carefully I would like to make a few additional comments:

re:

Yikes - you do make it hard to offer suggestions.

I am puzzled by that comment. I thanked you for the repost and stated that I did not like it. And I gave the reason why. Would you prefer that I say that I liked a repost that I did not like just to be nice?

Apologies if you misunderstood me - I meant exactly the opposite. I said that she 'looked' a little agitated, and tried to explain that I wasn't suggesting that you caused it. Leopard's expressions change all the time and sometimes you just get a moment when they don't look so appealing. I simply suggested that you might have an image in your zillions of keepers where she might have her ears forward and her face slightly more front-on.

Again, not being a Leopard expert I must say that the animal in the image looks completely at peace to me. She took a break from her chewing to appraise her surroundings. I do have many, many images in the series. I'l have to check out the position of her ears. What do they indicate?

Sorry, I don't know where the gradient in the sky came from

As I stated, it was present in the original image but not as obvious as it was in the B&W repost.

but I won't bother you with another attempt.

​Please try not to take comments here made personally. I would actually welcome a repost of the repost.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Arthur,

Having looked at this image a few times already and having read the comments above, I would like to add my thoughts:

This is one fantastic sighting and you have captured this leopard in a wonderful pose. I personally prefer the original post, there is a warmth in the colours present that really appeals to me. I have a special interest in animal behaviour and have spent many hours watching wildlife - in my humble opinion this lady leopard looks relaxed, she has taken her prey where she feels safe and she is scanning the surroundings for other predators like lions or hyaenas. She is so beautiful and in great condition.

Regarding the crop-I think I like it just the way it is, the tree branches frame the subject so well. Love the detail on the leopard, sharp where it needs to be and great IQ. Another winner Sir Arthur, congratulations!

Kind regards,

[Morkel Erasmus]

Sounds like a great sighting Artie! Would love to see some images of the cubs too at a later stage.
I can only add that I prefer the warmer colours on the leopard but think the tree can be selectively cooled down to a point where it doesn't look weird. I quite like the effect of the high key sky here too.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Gabriela. I agree :)> Mork, the tree has never looked weird from here :). I have tons of images of mother and cub to be optimized. Todd has them as tiny cubs from last FEBR.

[Morkel Erasmus]

Artie, I meant: when toning down some warmth from the tree but not the leopard, that it shouldn't end up looking weird/fake/pasted in - not sure if I make sense?

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Mork. Made sense 100% and understood; the tree has never looked warm or weird to me :).

[Martin Dunn]

This must have been a wonderful sighting.
I'm late to this discussion so much of what i think about the image has already been said.
For me the large amount of white detracts from the image as it somehow has the effect of sucking the colour out of the leopard.
In this respect I think the B&W version works best .
Composition wise I think the leopard is a bit too central. I would slide her over to the right and lose some of the big tree so that we get more of a sense of what she is looking at.
Still a cool image though and I wish I'd been there to take it.

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Martin, I love the white sky. As far as the composition, are you suggesting that I cut the leopard's tail off with the frame edge? There is four times as much room in front of the leopard than behind it so for me it is not too centered at all. I do like the B&W version; thanks again to Edward for posting it.