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Thread: Morning ascent

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Morning ascent

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    One from my 2013 archives here,

    having posted numerous vertical cropped colour versions I felt this F/F one was deserving of a monochrome with a very slight warming tint of 4%.

    Simply one of my best ever Leopard sightings where perfect light met with great uncluttered action.


    Nikon D700, Nikkor 80-400 AF-S, 1/8000s f/6.3 ISO1600 (previously shot back lit on other side, and didn't change from 1600....every thing happened so quickly)

    Bean bag from front pax seat, curves, levels conv to B&W in PS CC. One could argue for a 4-5 crop with a little less on the LHS, but stuck with preferred 2-3 ratio, YMMV.


    Ruaha Nat Park- Tanzania

    Cheers
    Marc


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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Hey Marc - another great frame from a great sighting.
    I like this, good use of the dark-to-light grading in the sky and it pops nicely tonally.
    The sliver of shrub at the bottom anchors it nicely.
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Hi Marc -- Another terrific frame ! Loved the conversion and the moment . Nice separation from the BG , makes it pop out .

    I find those tree in the BKG appearing like a sketch , is it due to the atmospheric haze ?

    TFS !

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marc - This works very well as a b&w too. I might just darken the tree or at least the highlights on the tree so that the leopard stands out a bit more than the tree.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hi Marc, not easy capturing a leopard ascending up a tree, they are so quick and agile. Your comp suits the action, and the leopard is nice and sharp against the clean BG. I do like your conversion too.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Love the leopard the sky and the background trees. The main tree whoa the main tree - don't like the bright highlights a bit - sorry they keep pulling my eye from the leopard.

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  12. #7
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Appreciate the comments everyone, many thanks.

    I do see the brighter sections of the Sausage tree, but for me it doesn't distract the eye.

    However here's a RP with a TK mask deployed on the area.


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    Hey Marc, I think this is about the pattern on the tree bark and the pattern on the cat. this image holds my interest and definitely gets me thinking; the tree bark has a kind of leopard pattern so the cat and the tree sort of compliment each other. Composition is the artist's choice but I am not sure if the 2 palm trees add to the image or detract by drawing the eye from the subject? It might be worth trying a vertical format and possibly try cropping out the ground completely which creates mystery as to the cats position relative to the ground. I really like the image because it is thought provoking, many textures, patterns. I think that if this image was just the cat and the tree bark it would be absolutely killer. TFS steve

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Marc it is probably me who is out of kilter with everyone else but I have a repost for your consideration I also used TK - just on the tree.

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Steve & John


    Quote Originally Posted by steve torna View Post
    Hey Marc, I think this is about the pattern on the tree bark and the pattern on the cat. this image holds my interest and definitely gets me thinking; the tree bark has a kind of leopard pattern so the cat and the tree sort of compliment each other. Composition is the artist's choice but I am not sure if the 2 palm trees add to the image or detract by drawing the eye from the subject? It might be worth trying a vertical format and possibly try cropping out the ground completely which creates mystery as to the cats position relative to the ground. I really like the image because it is thought provoking, many textures, patterns. I think that if this image was just the cat and the tree bark it would be absolutely killer. TFS steve
    Steve

    As I submitted a few images in portrait crop at the time, this submission was to tryout in F/F landscape mode, agree some may or may not prefer the 2 palms, but feel it adds some context.

    Here she is in colour portrait Steve with palm included


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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Marc

    I like your RP the most, feels almost that flash was used.. stunning conversion.
    One first sees the tree, then the ascending leopard- the sense I get is- going UP!
    Love the inclusion of the two palms, would just burn the highlights- they draw my eye away from main subject.
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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  18. #12
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Marc,

    Stunning capture and I like your RP, the conversion adds lots of drama and emphasises the elegant, almost effortless climb of the leopard. I personally like the palms in the BG, they add context and a kind of charm to the scene. Beautiful, Marc

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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  20. #13
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    Hi Mark
    Super conversion. I'm leaning more to your own repost. Beautiful capture!!

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