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Thread: Leopard stroll

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Leopard stroll

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    One of the many leopards we encountered, this if I remember rightly was an adult female, (Rachel you kept all the names, from the afternoon with Dean). She was excellent, allowing us to spend a fair amount of time with her, before cutting across the old dry river bed, much to the amusement of the monkeys who were all sounding off, with their alarm calls. Angle, sucks a little for me, but as time went on things improved, sorry Rachel that was my bug bear, like your ele ear & silhouettes, LOL .

    Steve

    Subject: Female leopard on walkabout (Panthera pardus)
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 200-400f/4 (460mm)
    Exposure: 1/4000s at f/5.6 ISO800 EV +0.67
    Original format: Portrait, almost FF

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - This is Nthombi, the mother of Topsy Turvy and of the skittish cub from this year. I like the walking pose and she liked to use the road for quicker movement. As you said angle isn't the best but techs look good though I'm surprised you needed that much EV with her in the sunlight. My guess is this is earlier on in our encounter with her because the light got a little warmer later.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    I'm surprised you needed that much EV with her in the sunlight.
    Thanks Rachel, looking at the sequence of shots, she went from shadow to light, so I just kept the ISO/EV as is, hence the 1/4000. EXIF shows time at 16.27.27.

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    Lovely IQ as always Steve...Colors look good. Did you lighten the shadow in the eye? I am not sure if it would benefit from a degree or so of CCW rotation. It may be worth a try.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve , i like the walking pose and the lifted paw is just looking great , giving the image a bit dynamic character.Angle could be better as yourself suggested , but not much to do.
    Great colors and tones , well processed.
    If this was mine i would go a bit off center , loose a tad from RHS and give the shadow a bit more room to the LHS, but think not really possible due to almost FF.

    TFS Andreas

    PS : Dumay good to see you are alive and commenting , how about new images from you ..........

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay, like Andreas, great to see you back here, you've made my month, but even better, to see you in the field. Will give you due notice next time and I promise, we will sink those overdue beers and I'm buying! I only added 12% Sat in the eyes, the light was from behind me, so going into her face, hence some light highlights on the nose. Will have a look at the rotation, but I based it on the rear paw.

    Andreas, I tok some off the RHS already, I think any more and there may not be enough for the subject to 'breath', but post a RP, I could well be wrong.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Steve , for me it will work only when i can add something to LHS , but i can`t because i do not have the raw .
    I am with you just taking something of the RHS will not work .

    THanks Andreas

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Steve - by knowing this looks stupid because of canvas extensions , but you get the idea , WDYT?
    Cheers Andreas

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    Glad to be back..Just paid up my membership and I will be posting shortly. I see what you mean on the back leg...I tried the rotation and it looked pretty good.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I am not to sure what "sucks", I think it is a dynamic image well exposed perhaps a slightly lower angle would have been better but with this magnification I do not think it possible for all legs to have been in focus. I other words a great image maybe a little lower would have done the trick??

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Andreas, I see what you mean, but sadly the OP is FF width & depth. I think you will be happier with some later images where I 'think' I may have achieved what I was after, albeit pushing Rachel's patience, LOL.

    Dumay, if you know the amount of rotation drop me a PM and I will gladly take a look.

    Thanks Jon, what I meant by the angle is that it has that 'looking' down POV which for me I try to avoid, especially subjects like these or birds, I want head on, eye level. With the DoF and the FP on the bridge of the nose I doubt the front leg/paw would be, I think it's just a fraction out of range, but will have a look again at the hi res just in case.

    Cheers guys.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Steve,

    What a beauty she is and how I wish she stared for a moment into your lens! POV maybe not ideal but somehow I suspect you are saving the very best for last.

    Well exposed and your skilful processing (as well as that F5.6) makes the subject pop really well, love the raised paw and that lovely detail on the subject, this is sharp where it matters-there are some photographers out there who really go overboard with sharpening(LOL)

    I like Andreas's idea but it involves a great deal of work, perhaps taking a fraction off the top and RHS might work to some extent?

    I am really glad your SA trip was so rewarding in terms of sightings and would love to see more images, please

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Steve, great looking leopard. I was envious that you saw 'many leopards". Te walking pose was great and the IQ is your usual excellent. Light was a bit harsh and the angle was not ideal, but we all know what it is like shooting from a vehicle. Your OP crop is the more balanced one that i prefer. TFS. Loi

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Not the best angle as per your thoughts, Steve, but not a bin-shot by any means.
    I still think it can stand a hint more rotation as she seams to be leaning even in the RP?

    Another slow clap to Dumay for getting on board again
    Morkel Erasmus

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    I am usually against adding canvas, as in this case, unless it can be done invisibly. Looks pretty good as it is to me, angle as it is or not.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks folks, but I'm with Neil, if I had the image content then no problem, but as this is FF then I will leave it.

    Hey Neil, I assume your back, hope the weather was favourable.

    Cheers

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