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Thread: Young Leopard

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Young Leopard

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    I'll let Rachel give him/her their true name, first morning drive with Dean.

    I couldn't get a better angle to avoid the vegetation as I was shooting across Deans lap, something he seem to enjoy over time, LOL. I would have shot differently tech wise based on the changes I have made over the last few months, but hey, that's what it's all about, developing, changing, modifying and letting our photography evolve...

    Thanks for either viewing or commenting on the previous image.

    Steve

    Subject: Youg leopard (Panthera pardus), head shot
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 200-400f/4
    Exposure: 1/400's at f/5.6 ISO800 HH
    Original format: Portrait, very slight
    Processed: LR6 2015 & PS CC2015

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    Hi Steve -- terrific details as always and nicely composed. i also liked the OOF leaves on the RHS of the image. I feel there is a bit of greenish tinge in the image but then i find its not taking any anything out of this beautiful portrait.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Haseeb, yes it is a little 'cooler' and to me the environment wasn't that strong in richness, vibrancy, strong saturated colours, everything was a lot softer and muted. I might went I'm back next week, just up the Temp a fraction, but again, for me, it's just be subtle tweak.

    cheers
    Steve

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - This should be the Marula female which we saw up in the tree and then unsuccessfully hunt (a theme for our trip with leopards). At the time Dean suspected she was pregnant and getting used to her new center of gravity. He proved right because Sanjeev has posted lots of images of her cubs. Detail looks great as always. Having the advantage of having been there and having my own images of her, I do think she had a bit more red in her fur but most of my images of her are in warmer sunshine. I find the oof foliage a bit distracting but also know all too well the conditions.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thank Rachel, as I said earlier, I will have to wait until I'm home next week, but only have a few days before I'm off again to warmer climates, so Uncle Morkel will have to help out.

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

    I like the way your leopard is, to some extent, framed by foliage - makes me think you "stole" the moment and therefore much more special. The framing works for me and you know I love close-ups, there's a lovely intimate feel here which I find so appealing.

    Detail is superb and sharpness also, still pondering whether a warmer look/feel is needed and would love to see this image again, should you decide to apply some of your magic tweaks:)

    Despite the circumstances (err...I really must have a chat with this young fellow called Dean) you brought before our eyes another wonderful capture from your SA trip - I so admire the subtlety of your PP work and of course, your experience out there in the field. Still wondering how you manage to get away with 1/400s, we must have a chat about this sometime

    Thank you Steve, I enjoyed viewing, very much.

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Excellent details and sharpness Steve, and nicely framed (the OOF foliage doesn't bug me a bit).
    I do wish the colours were more vibrant - as you say you were there and remember it as such...could still try the tweak and have a squizz?
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    LOL Gabriela, I think Dean is Rachel's man, although we had a good 'working' relationship , I won't tell you what the girls said I was to Dean.

    Dean was a good guy who understood what we wanted and what we tried to achieve and at times, delivered! A little off topic, but this is what I was stressing to Loi, you need to understand what you want, how to deliver it and workout what is the best way to achieve it. Something I tried to achieve in a walking Leopard, which Rachel sadly had to endure and I will post in due course. I know I can be a nightmare to work with, but all I try to do is maximise the opportunities, as we don't have the availability to access the natures rich wildlife you have, well perhaps the more exotic ones. However saying that, I will be off to play with one of my favourites later on .

    Hi Morkel, I think there is this question Peter raised, do we try to portray as we remember, or move it on, to me it can be a bit of both at times, hence, I will look at it when back.

    Have a great weekend everyone.

  9. #9
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Dear Steve,

    Peter's words still on my mind and I cannot decide which way to go... I think it all depends on the mood and possibilities within the frame...I sometimes wish my images to be arty and other times a record of what I think I have seen, all because it feels right at the time I do the PP work. Your opinion is important to me, this is why I subject my work to your critique. I think it was Umberto Eco who said he "pitied the writer who said he wrote for himself..."

    And it does look like Dean is a man who delivers the goods, LOL. Not easy to shoot from a vehicle filled with photographers, even when they are your best friends! Photography is meant to be a solitary act...Having company can be frustrating, and chatty as I may seem here on BPN, I am quiet as a mouse in the field, I hardly breathe when pressing the shutter and expect everyone else to do the same. Talking about opportunities...last Sunday we were just minutes late to a pack of wild dogs running around, and in-between their spoor (paws in the sand) we identified some leopard paws as well. A few distressed antelope hurrying about as we were passing by and we knew we were just minutes too late... oh well, it is good to know the predators are around and we keep trying...

    Steve, I hope " I won't tell you" means "I'll tell you later"?

    Nite Steve, great to view your images as always, also to share opinions and provoke some thoughts...

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Steve, very nice portrait with good details. The OOF leaves don't bother me. A little more DOF would have been better I think. Colors can be frustrating with leopards as I found out myself. They don't seem to sit out in beautiful golden light very often. Loi

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    Beautiful image of Marula! I remember her and miss SA a lot. I like the presentation here Steve and those subtle colours look good. Great detail and sharpness and the comp works just nicely.

  12. #12
    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve besides the nice side portrait with a great head angle , for me this is a tonal masterpiece .

    Love the way you processed this .

    Great details and the color well , it can be different , but this is a personal thing , so no big deal .

    TFS Andreas

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