Poised

[Rachel Hollander]

This is the Marula Female Leopard and the mother of the cub that Sanjeev recently posted. When we were in the Timbavati in May they suspected she was pregnant and she seemed to be trying to adjust to her condition and the changes to her center of gravity. She kept adjusting her position in this tree as she watched a herd of impala. We stayed with her for quite a while including when she came down and stalked the herd but unfortunately she missed in her run at the impala. This was taken just before 9:30 a.m. so the light was already a bit stronger.

Canon 7D
300 II
1/800
f6.3
ISO 800
Beanbag from safari vehicle, luminosity mask, levels, curves, selective color adjustments, burning and sharpened in CCPS.

C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

Rachel

[Dumay de Boulle]

Hi Rachel...Dappled light has been well handled. Colors look good and nice separation from the busy BG. Maybe a tad over-sharpened on the face but overall a pleasing image!

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Hi Rachel. Nice pose by Marula and you have brought out excellent detail and clarity on the face despite the strong light. It was a lot of fun watching her and her cubs. I will post more images of her and the cubs in the days to come. Cheers.
Sanjeev

[Anette Mossbacher]

Hi Rachel, very nice image of this animal. Details are great as usual. The light you handled very nice. What came in my mind when I saw it, oh what a great sky so nice blue. I might would turn it down a bit, the vibrance only. Would love to see her full body in the tree.

have a great eve

Ciao Anette

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Dumay, Sanjeev and Anette. Anette - here's a wider view taken at the same sighting with the 70-200 and 5D3:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...Female-Leopard

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Another great shot so clear it feels like one can reach out and touch it, Rachel! I just love that stare!

[Marc Mol]

Love the pose here with good use made of the dappled light, for me I might try lightening her head selectively just +1/3 stop.
Sharpness (head only) on my 2 screens/PC desktop look OK, but on my Mac retina looks a tad oversharpened, but then again it picks up every detail and bias's toward that.

I'm wondering Rachel if you are thinking of the NEW 7D MKII, the spec's certainly look very nice, and I'm hoping it kicks Nikon into lifting their game, as the D750 was for me a bit of a let down.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Tobie and Marc. Marc, yes, from everything I've read the 7DII sounds like a good camera to use side by side with my 5D3.

Thanks again,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Rachel, would have referred the 5D with the 1.4 for IQ on this one. I see Artie and Andy are at play with the 7D, sounds good but as yet to see some stunning results.

Darkening the sky to bring in a bit more colour is good, but just watch how much blue, as it starts to push some of the elements IMHO, bout it may stem from the Lumo adj. Nice pose, but I have a hankering to see that front trailing leg, perhaps a portrait version? Nice detail and I like the fact she is not looking to camera, she was gorgeous and very amenable too. I might suggest looking at the branch jutting from the back of the head.

TFS
Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

Lighting handled well Rachel - lovely clarity and detail in the face.
Can't add much more here - love that bokeh of the sky through the leaves.

[Rachel Hollander]

Thanks Steve and Morkel for the comments and suggestions, much appreciated.