Leopard

[Rachel Hollander]

I posted the color version of this image a while ago but thought I would process and convert it for the monthly theme. This is the female leopard on her afternoon patrol. Taken in the Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa in August 2012.

Canon 5D3
70-200 II @ 182mm
1/400
f6.3
ISO 800
EC +.67
HH from safari vehicle, cropped from rhs and above, converted in Nik Silver Efex, levels, curves, selective dodging and burning, sharpened in CCPS.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, one of the nicest Leopards you have posted recently IMHO, love the posture/stance and framing, just the right amount of space for my taste. Converting to B/W illustrates well, how they blend into their environment and coupled with their stealth, they are a formidable hunter. Techs look good and the angle for me doesn't convey shooting from a vehicle .

The conversion looks good, but I'm torn between adding a mid tone adjustment to the BKG, then two Curves adjustments to the subject, or to keep the BKG as is, but to apply the two Curves and punch up the blacks, basically the thought is to try for a bit more separation. However, the changes maybe too much and as presented it's fine, just thinking out loud, so lets see what others say.
Hope at a later point you post the Walt Disney version too in glorious 'Technicolour'.

TFS
Steve

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Steve, interestingly I had played a bit with the midtone adjustments to the leopard and giving the blacks a bit more punch but decided against it. Probably just my mood when processing this morning. I'll look at again.

Here's the color version done shortly after I returned from SA: http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...eopard-Looking. It might be worth me reprocessing this one now with some of my newer pp skills.

Rachel

[Marc Mol]

I do prefer the colour version to this B&W here Rachel, I'm finding the BG vegetation is competing a little too much with the leopard, the lift paw stance and detail on him is very well done however.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Dear Rachel,

I must congratulate you for your processing skills, the leopard really stands out and the image does not look overprocessed-everything is in balance.

Great detail, love the comp and presentation overall, a wonderful image Rachel!

Warmest regards,

[Andre Pretorius]

Hi Rachel

What an elegant lady she is!

Well processed to bring out from the BG.

Love the pose!

Steve, what do you mean with TWO curves on subject?- different blending modes?

Andre

[Steve Kaluski]

Steve, what do you mean with TWO curves on subject?- different blending modes?

You have one Curves adjustment for the Blacks, and mask, ditto the Whites, but these are NOT any of the presets, they are targeted specifically in the areas I want to adjust.

Rachel I might suggest you have a look when you have a minute, both the software & your own development & knowledge has increased, so you may be able to extract a tad more from within the RAW, but start from scratch.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Steve, I did process the B&W image from scratch. I meant that perhaps I should reprocess the color version from scratch.

[Steve Kaluski]

Re the B/W I assumed you had worked from scratch.

I meant that perhaps I should reprocess the color version from scratch.

Yep.

[Loi Nguyen]

Hi Rachel, beautifully done in B&W. I think your current B&W image provides more separation between the leopard and the BG than your color version. I like it as is. Loi

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. As always, they are very much appreciated.

Rachel

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Rach, what a lovely pose you have captured here, especially with the slightly raised right foot. Nicely in the open with a perfect placement in the frame. I feel your conversion has turned out so well. Bet you are looking forward to your upcoming trip.

[Andreas Liedmann]

Hi Rachel,like the pose of the leopard and the detail in the subject.
I actually prefer the color version .In here the subject stands a bit too strong for my taste , the contrast looks unnaturally too high between the subject and the BKG, for my eyes.

TFS Andreas

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Stu and Andreas.

Stu - very much looking forward to my trip and to meeting my BPN friends from halfway around the world.

Andreas - I'm not sure I've ever heard you say too much contrast before .

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Andreas Liedmann]

Rachel i meant the contrast between the BGK and the subject, so a suggestion would be adding more contrast to the BGK , but not as much as the subject to have a smoother flow between the two .

Andreas

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks for the clarification Andreas.

[edwardselfe]

What a gorgeous leopard. One of the loveliest I've seen anywhere. And your image is great too. I prefer the b&w as your eye is drawn to the stunning pose of the cat.

Separating leopard and bg is always hard - and I think the leopard just looks a little crunchy to me....

Ed

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Ed, much appreciated.

Rachel