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Thread: Scotia's Cub

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    Default Scotia's Cub

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    One of Scotia's 2 cubs, I had a few seconds to get this image as they played down in the river bed. This youngster jumped on the rock and stayed there for a few seconds and then ran off again. I had no chance to change the settings so I just fired. The ISO and 2x Ext have affected the image quality slightly and DOF is a little shallow. But overall I am happy with the image till I get my next opportunity.
    One of the youngsters are very relaxed with vehicles while the young male is still a little nervous but getting better sighting by sighting....Man they are growing so quickly.

    Canon 5D MKIII
    Sigma 120-300F2.8 OS + Canon 2x Ext
    AV f6.3
    TV 1/1600
    ISO 1600
    Spot metering

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Super cute, I am so green about this sighting and image Dumay.
    I wish the light was better on the eyes, but you did well overall with what you had. Open setting is to die for as they are so often hidden in shrubbery and crevases.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Cute pose and nice BG here. I'd lighten the eyes just a tad for mine.

    Considering the 2.0 tc on the Sigma, the quality (at least for this web presentation) has held up reasonably well Dumay, how is the AF speed & acquisition?


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    Thanks for all the comments folks.

    Marc the focus speed is still faster than the 100-400 and the IQ is comparable, I also had a fair crop on this one so the IQ is border line acceptable. I can't remember or compare the speed when I was using the Canon 300 f2.8 and 2x Ext combo, but its not slow.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay - Great to see you posting again, presume you are on leave at the moment. Count me among the ones green with envy. I have never seen a leopard cub this small. Huge cuteness factor and you did very well for a grab shot. I really like the inquisitive look too.

    TFS,
    Rachel

    P.S. I added the "Theme" prefix. This month is Predators and baby predators are eligible too.
    Last edited by Rachel Hollander; 12-05-2014 at 08:04 AM. Reason: Added p.s.

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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    Beautiful subject - look at the size of them paws already!

    Great to see the eye level shot, maybe just brighten the eyes slightly

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    Super cute little cub, love the clean BG and the pose. Nice details as well!

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

    Rachel is right, lovely Theme image, this baby is a predator in the making. Love the size of those paws, the concentration on his face, I am also thinking you could lighten the eyes a tad (not like me with my serval, really just a tad) Dumay, you have such wonderful opportunities and I enjoy your posts tremendously, this in particular because I have only seen one baby leopard ever , I wonder whether you should darken the rock a bit, maybe just using the burning tool in places to emphasise those cracks a little, BG is great, sharpness is there in good measure - thank you for sharing this, I am green with jealousy over this sighting and I cannot take my eyes off those cute eyes and long whiskers!

    Warmest regards, have a great week-end,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Forum Participant Thinus Schoeman's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay, full marks on the cute factor for this one. What a great sighting with a nice clean background. Excellent detail on the face, and better light on the eye would have been an added bonus. Nothing to fault here, thanks for sharing!

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay , i would call this typical Dumay shot .
    Very clean image with good IQ and nice tonal range . Well composed !And the cuteness factor is high .
    Nice job , TFS Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay, what a privilege to have access to such a sighting, I think we knew she was pregnant when we were there, so really great to see things come to fruition, a lovely bundle of joy. If you are using the Ext MKII then IQ should be good, although cannot comment on the combination with the Sigma, but with the 500 & new breed of lens it is quite stella and have no issues in using it compared to the MKI which was pants.

    I do like the inquisitive posture/stance and the BKG/Stone gives/provides a nice separation. I think/feel, dropping some Contrast, & opening the Highlights, Shadow & Blacks brings some more 'light' back into the image and also helps some of the clipped blacks in the front paw spots.

    Gorgeous with a very BIG 'cute' overload factor.

    TFS
    Steve

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    Thanks Steve, I am using the 2x ExtII so its not as good as the III, it's not ideal but bought it second hand at the quarter of the new Ext III...Again we have to make do with what we can afford.
    As for the image, It was horribly overcast, very dark and grey, I always find to try keep warmth in the image when lightening it always seems yellow. I have reworked with your suggestions regarding shadows and highlights, also regarding comments from others about lightening the eye.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay, my mistake about the MK versions and you are totally correct, it's II & III I should have referred to.

    I think it's good to retain a certain amount of warmth as you say, but it all depended on the conditions, however, you were there and know far better, all I/we can do at this stage is base the comments on the image itself, but based on the ISO/SS you had a good amount. Personally I prefer the rock in the RP & the BKG to the OP, as for the cub it's probably a combination and this is where personal taste, impression and thoughts come in. Amazing to see these 'chestnut' eyes and to think they will soon change colour.

    Envious of the encounter.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Dumay agree with Steve regarding coloration of BKG and FG rocks , but the cub looks better to me .

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    Hi Dumay - good to see you back and with a stunning image. I prefer your RP but IMO I think the bluish tinge to those granite rocks in your OP is more realistic. All round great image. Good work

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