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Thread: Female Leopard (Nzilu)

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    Default Female Leopard (Nzilu)

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    Another image of my favourite Leopard. I did a canvas print of this image yesterday and man..... it came out beautifully.
    One evening along the sand river she posed on a tree for us for about 20 min at sunset over the Sand River, as the light changed I got so many with different colors and tones as well as poses. She watched the sunset and as it came to an end, she got up and started moving eventually standing on this tree for bout 5 min looking around and then off she went.
    We saw her again about a week later on the same original tree at sunset again, no camera that day as I had a very full vehicle so someone was sitting where I keep my gear...I swear she likes to go and watch the sunset over the river before a night of hunting.

    Canon 5D MKIII
    Sigma 120-300 f2.8 OS@ 300mm
    ISO 1600
    AV f4
    TV 1/320
    Spot metering


    Thanks for looking and commenting on all my posts!

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay - what a majestic pose she gave you! I like the leading line of the branch she's sitting on and also the way another branch provides a top frame too. Detail, tones and colors all look good. Only thing I might do if it were mine is crop a sliver off the bottom to eliminate the lighter patch at very foot of the image and create a straight edge there. Overall, an excellent image and one I'd love to have.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay, you are oh so lucky to have these opportunities and I'm so pleased you were able to take advantage when you can, sounds like the whole experience was, in the words of JP, 'awesome' !

    I keep having this hankering to move right to be in line with her, but I also quite like the 3/4 angle pose and the tree trunk arching over her head. For me the expression is one of tolerance, but that she knows everything is on 'her' terms. Based on the output you have had done you are very please which is great. However what I might suggest based on the image posted is:

    - That the Blacks are adjusted so they aren't clipped and the white point raised, having those two addressed I think will strengthen the image
    - Likewise dropping the blue so the trunk has less of a cast with it
    - Depending on your ethics, clone out the highlight/brighter on the trunk area at the foot.

    Try for a little more SS and upping the ISO.

    great to have you back posting and hope to see more from your encounters.

    TFS
    Steve

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

    Welcome back, I am always happy to see your images here in Wildlife, and at times quite jealous of your leopards

    Very pleased to see you take advantage of those wonderful sightings, I also believe you know your subjects very well - this enables you to get close enough without causing them any discomfort, they all seem so relaxed in your company:)

    I could not help but read the feedback you got from Rachel and Steve, although I did try to shape my thoughts beforehand... so here it goes, a bit of a mix:

    I love the pose from the leopard and the framing is superb with those branches (top and bottom). I do wish for more DOF, but that means you would have had to up ISO - I am sure your equipment could take it, would like to see you experiment more:) Love the greens in the BG, the image overall resembles a painting with the subject so beautifully framed - not surprised you had it printed and I would love to see this lovely canvas one day...

    I must admit I did experience the need to "move in line with the subject" like Steve said, in other words a strong desire to look her in the eye - not sure it was possible and I appreciate you refraining from making such a move in order not to stress the animal, if that was the case.

    I am enjoying your work tremendously, love your passion for wildlife and your photography shows respect for your subjects as well as knowledge of their behaviour, great work in the field as well as PP work, Dumay - congratulations!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Dumay

    Techs covered above, man, just wondered what this girl would have looked at 6,3?....
    Eyes are almost there, just a ...bit?
    Would like to scratch her behind the ears, but I think she would mind..
    Nice one!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    HinDumay, lovely image and I would have done the same as you, not moving the vehicle for fear that she would get up and leave. DOF is OK with me. I'd like to suggest an alternate crop taking off a sliver from left and top. Loi

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    Thanks for the comments...Crits appreciated.

    There was no way to move more in front of her as the tree stump you see in front of her continued in front of the vehicle...so I feel the eye contact is very strong and the look to the left was good enough.
    As I say I have printed this and the whole front of the Leopard and the eyes and face are sharp...I went for f4 as I wanted to throw out the busy BG more and to make them less of a distraction...
    I love the image as is!

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    Hi Dumay -- Thank you for sharing this beautiful image ! it has some amazing feel here !

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    Forum Participant BenBotha's Avatar
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    Lovely image. I like the mood the eyes saying, dont mess with me. Tfs. Ben

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    Forum Participant christopher galeski's Avatar
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    its all been said,a beautiful image,well done.

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    Lifetime Member Ákos Lumnitzer's Avatar
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    Nice image, great looking cat and love the natural framing. I'd remove the white patch in the front or crop a tad tighter.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Dumay - this is a cracker! Love it, no bugbears from me...
    the arched branch over her head frames her nicely too.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Wow that's a beautiful image, I love it just as it is. I like the limited DOF and the angle of the head.

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    IOTY Winner 2009 Mark Dumbleton's Avatar
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    Excellent image Dumay! That eye contact seals the deal for me on this image! Well done bud!

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