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Thread: Leopard ascent in golden light.

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Leopard ascent in golden light.

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    For me an image I've always hoped may come along, on this trip to Ruaha, I certainly got my wish as I was lucky enough to experience many sightings of leopards ascending & descending in all types of lighting conditions,
    even sunrise/sunset silhouettes.
    I've included the palm as it provides some context, interested to see what others feel?
    I would have preferred slightly more room above, but that might be greedy. ISO1600/8000s was not intentional, but in the heat of battle.

    D700 80-400 AF-S ISO 1600 1/8000s f/6.3 @ 80mm, 20% crop.

    Ruaha NP- Tanzania Oct 2013.

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc


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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Wow, this is the kind of light I was wishing for with my "leopard ascent" series taken in Kruger (which again suffered from overcast light ).
    Love the inclusion of the palm -
    Might be tempted to crop a sliver from the LHS to remove the triangle of sky bottom left? A taste thing, not sure it would even lift the image, but worth investigating...
    There seems to be a slight halo around the leopard...S/H adjustment perhaps?

    Eager to see the variety of leopard ascent shots you got!!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Might be tempted to crop a sliver from the LHS to remove the triangle of sky bottom left? A taste thing, not sure it would even lift the image, but worth investigating...
    There seems to be a slight halo around the leopard...S/H adjustment perhaps?

    Eager to see the variety of leopard ascent shots you got!!

    Thanks Morkel

    I did consider taking out the blue triangle, but didn't suit, (angle of tree I think?) interseting you see a halo, (can't really see it on both my cal monitors?) as I didn't need to use any S/H, certainly not in this light.

    edit.......just thinking again, perhaps the slight lumo mask of 15% on sky perhaps??
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 10-28-2013 at 05:01 PM.


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marc - I think this works as is. Great light and colors and the palm adds IMHO. Congrats on achieving one on your wish list. I too see the very slight halo. Looking forward to seeing more.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Marc, it's very slight - but a quick check will always be to pull the shadows or midtone slider in levels all the way to the RHS...
    Like this...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Love the image as is. The palm tree is an added bonus. Beautiful leopard ascent in great light. Loi

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    Great sighting and well captured Marc. The light is nice!

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    Forum Participant edwardselfe's Avatar
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    Yes apart from the slight halo this is stunning. 1/8000s has made it very static, but there's enough suggested movement in the cat's back left paw to show the action.
    Great image and would love to have one like this.
    Ed

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Marc,

    glad your wish came true For me it looks very great.

    IMHO, in my eyes, the tree trunk starts to compete with the leopard! I think the tree trunk is to bright, it might be that way out there in the wilderness, you have been there. I personally would turn it down with a Luminosity adjustment. Just me

    Have a great eve

    Ciao
    Anette

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    Forum Participant BenBotha's Avatar
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    Lovely photo, I like it just as it is. The tree trunk looks natural to me. Re the halo-in Morkel's RP also a ?halo around the Palm tree?

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Marc, these shots are arent easy, they move pretty quick, so you have to be ready, as you were, well timed. Cant fault the light, colours look good, and comp wise, I would maybe take a bit off the bottom.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Marc, I had the asme thought amount that triangle of sky, but on reflection leave as is, it looks better as presented. Certainly a 1/8000 you can't but nail the image, however I would rather have more SS than less, as a near miss is for the bin. I nike the inclusion of the vegetation at the foot, likewise the palm in the BKG. Perhaps an hour earlier the colour may have been warmer softer, but overall the colours look fine to me for that time of day, just after 7.00am.

    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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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Steve

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Perhaps an hour earlier the colour may have been warmer softer, but overall the colours look fine to me for that time of day, just after 7.00am.
    Sunrise wasn't till 06.22 Steve, so in a perfect world I needed her to climb around 06.40, but hey .........I'll take this anytime of day


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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Wow that changed quickly Marc, in the space of half an hour, unless the camera time is out?

    .I'll take this anytime of day
    Totally agree!
    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 Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post
    Wow that changed quickly Marc, in the space of half an hour, unless the camera time is out?



    Totally agree!
    Yes the light changes very quickly close to the equator.
    Taken @ 07.16, always check my timezone settings before a trip, so this was correct.
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 10-30-2013 at 03:12 AM.


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    beautifully executed image. like everything as presented.

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    Superb shot and action! Love this sleek, slender yet powerful cat taking on almost 90 deg slope with ease. The palm in the background works well with this composition. I personally do not have any problems on the bottom left sky, and would stick with it as presented.

    Shreyas

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