High Key Leopard

[Rachel Hollander]

Like Loi, I've been going back to some older images and processing them either because I never processed them before or because I've learned new techniques that I think will enhance an image. This is one of the 8 month old male leopard cub photographed in the Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa in August 2012. I went high key with the image because to expose properly for the shaded face I needed to add +2 of EC which blew out the sky. Way back when I first returned I posted a b&w version of another image in the series of his descent from the tree. He had chosen a rather large tree with lots of branches and a wide trunk (seen here) to hang out in waiting for his mom to summon him to dinner.

Canon 5D3
70-200 II @ 140mm
1/400
f5.6
ISO 400
EC +2
HH from safari vehicle, ff, exp adjustment to bg, levels, curves, reduced the reds, cloned out some stray twigs and a branch coming up from the bottom, selectively sharpened only the leopard in CCPS.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,
Rachel

[Martin Dunn]

For me Rachel this would work better as a vertical crop, to eliminate some of the very light BG.
The detail on the tree is intense and perhaps detracts a bit from the leopard. It is also a shame that there is no eye contact with the leopard.

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Martin - here's a link to the prior image which is more along the lines of what you suggest, although it is a b&w conversion.

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...03698-Inspired

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, I like the landscape format, but would loose some off the RHS. I think the format lends itself to the incline of the tree and the fact that the leopard looks as if it's about to pounce. I;m OK with the 'High key' background as it's different and in keeping with the shot rather than cutout. Personal taste, but I would add some mid tone or an exposure adjustment just to drop the tone of the tree, i feel it a little light, but...

I might have expected a bit more detail & clarity in the subject at that distance & kit.

TFS
Steve

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Rachel,
i quite like the format as presented ,agree with Steve about being a tad light overall .Not much you could do with the BKG, but you could go for more depth in the tree and in parts of the cat , i think.The cat itself , just wonder about the tonal range just behind the left front leg towards the back , looks flatter and a bit blurry not as sharp as the front.

So up to you what to do….
TFS Andreas

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Rachel, the colours of the leopard pop nicely against the high key BG. Lots of detail of bark on the tree, and comp wise, I would just take a bit off the bottom.

[edwardselfe]

I'm with Stuart. Love it as it is, but would just lose a little off the bottom. Perhaps 2-3cms....? It could be B&W too, but I think the colours work here too.

Ed

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks guys for all the comments and suggestions. I will play with the image a bit more and with the crop alternatives.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Morkel Erasmus]

I like the high key look here combined with the golden light, Rachel. It works better for me than the monochrome version - go figure .
I agree it could stand to lose some off the RHS - and to try and darken the tree just a smidge.