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Thread: On the hunt

  1. #1
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default On the hunt

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    We spent a lot of time with this young male Leopard one morning, of which probably 50% of the time was just watching him stalk a large Impala herd, however at times, the waiting became 'oh so frustrating', but great to witness, as he slowly manoeuvred his way around and into an ambush position. He was within feet of a passing Impala, (sad to think we were eager and prepared to witness such a scene), but that's life.

    And so..., after what seemed ages, probably about four hours plus, his hunger for a kill seemed to wane and all he did was just sit and watch the Impala inches away within the tall grasses!!!!

    Thanks to those who viewed or posted a comment on the previous thread.

    Steve

    Subject: Leopard (Panthera pardus), stalking leopard, late morning
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 200-400f/4 HH
    Exposure: 1/3200s at f/5.6 ISO800
    Original format: Landscape, cropped top & bottom for presentation
    Processed: LRCC 2015 & PSCC 2015

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - Yes, a great but frustrating sighting. Nice stalking pose. Any a few frames earlier where the plants weren't behind him and it was more grass instead? If it were mine I would back off on the sharpening of the surrounding grass even though it is on the same plane.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Nice stalking pose Steve. I like the comp and colours.

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    Agreed, a very nice long, lean stalking pose.TFS

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Nice pose/behaviour here Steve. Pity about the light but handled well.
    Sorry that the hunt didn't culminate for you guys :)
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Hi Steve -- very nice pose and comp ! you handled the lighting very well , i see why u always push everyone for that high SS :)

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi folks, OK, jut arrive back home so normal service to a degree I guess.

    Rachel, sharpening only on the subject, but with only one minor pass as the RAW was sharp, don't forget highlights will look crisper too.

    Mokel, you know the score, it's ultimately down to luck. Without checking I think this must have been round 10.30/11.00 so light was getting harsh/contrasty and in all honesty we had planned to stay out all day if there had been a kill, mealtime comes second in our case. In an ideal world early morning/late afternoon for shooting, but often it never goes that way and so you have to dealt with it as best you can and accept the conditions.

    Haseeb, in this instance I needed a high SS to catch the cat in 'motion', but IQ providing the image is exposed well should be good at any high ISO, but maintaining a good SS is key IMHO and the modern bodies these days are superb. Try it and see, you have nothing to loose.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Dear Sir ...... just the right brightness for this quite nice frame
    Steve you caught the Leopard in a nice pose i can almost feel his mission !!
    Comp is fine for me , but would loved a bit more space in front of the subject
    Well handled harsh light and processed on your usual high standard .

    TFS Andreas

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

    I must admit I am a tad jealous of this sighting and of course, your capture of this magnificent leopard hunting! Difficult conditions indeed - not just the harsh light but also the subject moving - or rather "leopard crawling" - among vegetation and so close to the ground.

    Well exposed and tack sharp. I am very intrigued by that right paw - it almost looks as if the subject is trying to flatten those blades of grass under his chin? His eyes are half closed as if in some kind of "trance" - avoiding strong light or just focused on the prey? I would like to know more Steve, truly a very interesting shot in terms of behaviour and I would appreciate it if you could share with me some more frames from this instance, if possible.

    Excellent PP work, framing and presentation, this image kept me glued to the screen for some time tonight. Thank you Steve, I enjoyed viewing, a lot. As always, looking forward to more

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

  10. #10
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, you really are truly amazing with your words, insight, thoughtfulness and words of 'pros', I am always so humbled by your dialog as I have mentioned so many times before, there is such richness to the whole format & content, you really need to find an avenue for this and if I was doing what I had been doing then I may have been able to have helped. Sadly I've been out of the 'business' too long now and enjoying the 'fruits of our labours'.

    To know more would have to be a joint effort with Rachel & Alison, as they would put me right in my recollection and I think it would need to be in the 'spoken word' rather than the 'hunt & peck' of the keyboard.

    Like you, I am very keen to add to your Story sequence Forum, and I'm hoping with a key species of mine to do so, but it does take time because of how I wish to present it. Seriously it has been a ridiculous 8 weeks and getting madder, in a few days time we are supposed to be off to the Arctic and so the 'grains of sands are running out', plus I was suppose to take some new kit out courtesy of... to use, not sure if that will happen now.

    It's always a privilege to read any feedback from you, as you put so much into it, you can see the passion, thank you and apologies in being so brief at times.

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Steve

    Really like the pose - the flat cat- one doesn't see this often.
    I can see your anticipation in the S/S...
    I have been frustrated many times in the Kalahari after spending hours and hours in the hot sun with cheetahs on a "hunt"; few got a finger from me on departure..

    Light was not your friend, but the image content makes this special, love it!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

  12. #12
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Thank you Steve,

    Would love to find an "avenue" some day and I really wish I had more time to search for it - I would probably find it... For now I take great delight in exploring places and things that inspire me. I love to write just as much as I love taking photographs, and as I do so every night on BPN I manage to draw from work such as yours in terms of my future approach to photography, trying to overcome certain obstacles and to cope with any technical limitations I might have.

    Nature often amazes and defies me, at the same time it remains a respectful reminder of all that exceeds me...spending time "out there" helps me accept more graciously all those events that occur in my daily life and which inevitably make me the person I am today. I am grateful for your insight and even more grateful for your friendship and inspiration - thanks to you I am able to recognise certain key elements in a frame, select features I believe to be valuable and also add a tad of my temperament to the whole scene... some say "bad art is bad choices", so I hope I have learnt by now what to show and what to leave out, still learning... don't know if I'll ever get there, but the journey is amazing:)

    And no need to apologise Steve...you know an owl image in my Inbox does the trick

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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