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Thread: Impala on the lookout for any leopards!

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Impala on the lookout for any leopards!

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    Just arrived back from Selous & Ruaha- Tanzania, where the wildlife and majestic baobab landscapes did not disappoint
    I could almost say it rivals my most fav wildlife destination the Sth Luangwa, it's that good.

    The leopard sightings were amongst some of my best, here is an image that evoked a touch of humour when it presented itself.

    D700 80-400VRII f/6.3 1/250s ISO200 @ 150mm. 20% crop.

    Ruaha NP- Tanzania Oct 2013.

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc


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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Hmmmm.................44 views and no comments, it does appear that I've been away too long.
    Please don't be shy, I can take it.


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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    Hi Marc,

    Sorry - I did load the page several times because I was trying to post a comment and it wouldn't post, so I could be responsible for some of those 44!!

    This is a great image - they clearly have some relaxed leopards like we do here in S Luangwa!! Love the symmetry here and the fact that the leopard is staring out of the image, presumably from a Sausage tree, judging by the bark and bright green leaves.

    Think you managed this situation well. Might have pushed ISO to 400 just to get 1/500s SS but you were probably excited at the time and didn't notice! Or else you had a steady resting place.

    In terms of PP. If you have a little more space on LHS, I'd like that - to give the impala space to breathe....bad taste but just following your lead... And I think the blues and greens in the BG look just a little too saturated for my liking.

    Otherwise a very cool image, and a stunning sighting!

    Ed

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    cool image Marc,
    I like the symmetry of the composition but think it might look better with a more pano crop
    I REALLY love those huge leopard eyes.
    The colours of the background blues/yellows/greens look a bit strange to me

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Appreciate the comments Ed & Martin


    Quote Originally Posted by Martin Dunn View Post
    The colours of the background blues/yellows/greens look a bit strange to me
    Nothing added to BG colours other than a minimal +6 saturation.


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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Marc, it does provoke a sense of humour and is different to what we normally see/view.

    I feel Ed is correct in that having a tad more room to the LHS would help, likewise the overall 'warmth'. You were there and I'm viewing on the laptop, but just tweaking the WB I think may addresses the colour, plus just dropping the Blue takes the slight cast out from the whites and helps the sky, although how far you wish to take it is personal taste. In doing so I feel the Leopard & tree look 'cleaner', WDYT? Looking at the 'techs' I would have upped the ISO just to gain a bit more SS.

    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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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Marc,
    An unusual shot and a very interesting situation here I too thought of suggesting a pano crop, but the leopard needs his space at the top and the antelope is facing down, so I think you made the right choice here. I agree with Steve's suggestion to drop the blue, the BG has this "over-saturated" look which draws attention away from the subjects.

    Love the leopard's pose, he seems to be scanning the surroundings to make sure no one comes to take his prey. Great sighting well captured, hope you have more images of this leopard?

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marc - this definitely has a comical element to it. I agree with more room on the lhs if you have it and also the comments regarding color. As usual Steve has made good suggestions for improvement. There's also a slight red cast to the tree but that may be natural coloring. I hope you have lots more from your trip to post.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Fantastic capture with the opposing positions of the 2 animals! I agree with the comments above about cropping and color. For me I would want to concentrate on that great expression of the leopard and minimize the bright background distractions.

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Here's a RP with the suggested BG colours & highlights reduced, and corrected the slight pink cast in the Sausage tree.
    Gotta agree it does now look a better image, good suggestions everyone.
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 10-26-2013 at 03:00 PM.


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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Marc, I could certainly be wrong, but I think it is still carrying a % of Red, not sure if this helps based on the OP, WDYT?

    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 Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    It is getting better and better!!

    IMHO there is still too much reds on impala and the branches behind the young leopard on the LHS.

    A stunning capture, Marc!

    Did this youngster catch and drag the impala alone?
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andre Pretorius View Post

    Did this youngster catch and drag the impala alone?
    Killed by her mother Andre, with mum now giving her daughter all the signs of it's time to leave.........stay tuned.


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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Marc, clever title, and love the pose of the leopard with open mouth, and those lovely eyes. Steve's repost has sorted out the cast.

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    Like Marc's RP the best.
    Ed

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Good to have you posting again, Marc! Glad you enjoyed your safari (and your new lens)...
    Great sighting and shot, with good feedback above. Like your RP a lot, and the clarity and exposure balance you got is great.

    Eager for your thoughts on the lens now (I only used it on one trip) - I think it is a perfect lens for the 12.1mp FX range (D3, D700, D3s) cameras. It lacked a bit of clarity/sharpness for me on the D800 but it might have been sloppy technique as I was handholding on foot for most of those.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post

    Eager for your thoughts on the lens now (I only used it on one trip) - I think it is a perfect lens for the 12.1mp FX range (D3, D700, D3s) cameras. It lacked a bit of clarity/sharpness for me on the D800 but it might have been sloppy technique as I was handholding on foot for most of those.
    You might be right about suiting the smaller mp FX range, nonetheless, I was pretty impressed with the new 80-400, the new VR makes this a great handholdable lens for in vehicle or walking, and pan blurs.
    AF speed/acquisition & bokeh not quite up to the 70-200 f/2.8 or f/4 (which I recently bought). One big asset is the fact that this lens is sharp all the way through to 400.
    Plus it's nice to pick it up from using the 500VR, I know you know what I mean!


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    thats a cool image. excellent comp, IQ and title.

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