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Thread: The 'Eye' of the Leopard

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default The 'Eye' of the Leopard

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    An side on view of 'Kwela Kwela' the female leopard Rachel posted recently. I just got captivated by her gorgeous eyes and fixed gaze. I just retained the curve of the upper jaw/mouth without cutting it, but just wanted that eye. The items embedded in the fur are foliage from the ground, not bad cloning. She was a real beauty and allowed us to have full access and with her cub too, sadly after this encounter she has never been seen since.

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

    Steve

    Subject: Leopard (Panthera pardus) head, side on
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 500f/4 MKII with 1.4x resting on a bean bag
    Exposure: 1/320s at f/9 ISO1600 EV -0.33 (more ISO, greater SS next time and perhaps f/11)
    Original format: Landscape, slight crop from the top, FF on width
    Processed via: LRCC & PSCC

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Beautiful image, excellent details as usual. The texture of her coat is almost tangible.
    I appreciate you were captivated by her eye but I don't get why her lower jaw wasn't included, and the ear is only just in the frame, for me it looks just a little tight in the frame.

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    BPN Member Anette Mossbacher's Avatar
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    Hi Steve,

    love the eye of this leopard. Very well done and I never ever expect it different from you

    Pressure is high sir

    Nevertheless, if the eye would be here my subject I would not sharpen the ear hair at all! Just IMHO That 's me

    Enjoy your evening, hope you are having a great dinner

    Ciao Anette

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Ai Steve, would like to kiss that nose!
    Only because she can not bite me without a lower jaw!
    Love the detail!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Most wonderful details on this lady! Your crop is OOTB but it most certainly has the viewer see that eye immediately and the intensity of the stare. I like that the whiskers provide a visual underline to the eye and a frame that keeps your eye on her eye! The roundness of the ear curving inward also keeps your eye to the center, and the open space on the left lets you view off into the distance with her. If you had included more of the jaw or the complete ear then the viewer would first see the familiar cat head shape and put the eye into that head. This way the eye is paramount, then the head. You can feel her in this view and not just see her a another leopard. The processing is ideal and always a pleasure to view.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Interesting crop choice, Steve. I can see why, yet think it has to grow on me (so it will get me coming back again tomorrow to evaluate, haha).
    I might crop more of the ear off on RHS?
    Sad to hear she has vanished.

    PS: Happy birthday!!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - She was certainly a cooperative and captivating subject. Love those eyes too. Great detail as usual. I would be tempted to go tighter on the crop but haven't figured out how much yet.

    Happy Birthday again and TFS,
    Rachel

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    A very good evening to you Steve,

    I expect from time to time something more unusual and eye grabbing from you...This is one example

    Unusual indeed, to some perhaps a supreme form of "imperfection" due to the very unusual crop. Which BTW at first put me into some crisis, as the frame seemed incomplete... But after spending some time viewing (two whole evenings) I changed my mind, right now I am thinking I should call you a "contemporary experimentalist". Let me translate this into plain words and say this does work - I am drawn to the eye and the frame "talks to me". I am grateful for this post for many reasons, first of all because it allows me to be more daring with my choice of images in the future:) I shall be careful though, lots of detail needed and careful choice of DOF, skilful handling of colours and textures...A Master's work indeed, and a seemingly incomplete crop that is complete in the image and expressing itself through it. I must be careful not to imitate though

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Steve -- great details and that eye is so mesmersing , i like the jaw line appears as if she is smiling . Though not sure abt the ear , a close crop might not work instead it should have come out completely .

    TFS !

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    Hi Steve,
    What a beautiful subject!
    There is always a lot to learn about technique and composition from you. May I ask why did you use f/9 and were considering f/11? What were your thoughts? I would have gone for a wider aperture because of the buisy background, trying to separate the subject from it.
    Thanks,
    Kalin

  11. #11
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    May I ask why did you use f/9 and were considering f/11?
    The closer you are Kalin the greater DoF is needed, but on reflection I think f/9 was OK.

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    Thank you Steve!

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    What lovely detailed close up shot ....... With this beautiful animal. Always love to watch them in wild. This is an outstandingly detailed shot


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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