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Thread: A Decent Meal...

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Default A Decent Meal...

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    Masego is a young and extraordinary leopard in the Auob river bed - Kalahari Trans-frontier Park.

    There have been numerous posts in the media of this youngster with no fear, no interest in humans, or their vehicles: they do not bother her, she will use anything to her best advantage... when she needs it.

    She has been for some time under the wing of her mother Miera, who lately has been pushing her away: she needs to be on her own...She does struggle but keeps trying...hunger is urging her on.

    There have been reports of Masego swiping a child through an open car window, recently a photographer friend told me she grabbed his bean bag trough the open window of his Toyota Landcruiser, his Canon 7D with 200-400 falling on the sand outside the car... Masego is a hungry, frustrated young leopard, trying to survive in a harsh environment. I check daily the FB page of Kalahari Sightings for news of her whereabouts...We saw her three times during our February trip to the Kalahari, she took my breath away each and every time. Not yet confident enough to take big prey like Springbok she is hunting easier, smaller prey like African Wild Cat sleeping in the Camel-Thorn trees during daytime - not always easy...

    I pledge all my fellow photographers to practise ethical behaviour in the field - please do not stress those magnificent creatures. We encountered a young photographer on our last trip, a man with little or no respect for Nature and its subjects, who annoyed not only Masego but just about every wild creature in his way. Everyone took notice of his behaviour and reported to the authorities. We are there to observe and capture, not to change behaviour with our overzealous actions...

    Here Mom captured a Springbok and allowed Masego to tuck in...

    Techs : Nikon D3s with 500f4
    1/1600 @ 7,1
    ISO 2500
    +0,3EV

    Crits and comments/advice welcomed!

    Andre
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Andre I read your story with interest it must be difficult for these animals with the pressure of people wanting to take pictures of them and a sad few that need to get that shot without regard for any of the animals feeding.I sometimes feel that there is a minority that have no understanding of nature but all they think it makes them nature photographers just because they have a picture of some bird or animal.A few years ago we had a few Short Eared Owls turn up on land close to me which I have watched birds and wildlife for years,I would not visit after it got out on the internet and was full of people with cameras of which most were ok,but after seeing them throwing snowballs at these birds to get flight shots and general bad behavior I could not bring myself to go near the place.Much rather find myself a nice spot and sit in my car and try tp photograph Hares and such and just enjoy the nature around me.
    You have caught a nice peace full feeding moment yourself on this splendid looking Leopard.
    Keith.
    Last edited by keith mitchell; 06-03-2016 at 04:53 AM.

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Love the pose, clean BG, good eye contact/low POV and good techs, this ticks all the boxes here Andre. The cut springbok doesn't bother me.
    Only thing I can add would be a tad more mid tone contrast via curves & levels & TK adj's to give it a little more pop. This is one alternate RP here:

    Quote Originally Posted by Andre Pretorius View Post

    I pledge all my fellow photographers to practise ethical behaviour in the field - please do not stress those magnificent creatures. We encountered a young photographer on our last trip, a man with little or no respect for Nature and its subjects, who annoyed not only Masego but just about every wild creature in his way. Everyone took notice of his behaviour and reported to the authorities. We are there to observe and capture, not to change behaviour with our overzealous actions...

    Andre
    I certainly hear you Andre, and couldn't agree more. May I suggest you never travel to the Mara come migration time as the above behaviour is becoming increasingly more prevalent in the more popular areas.

    TFS
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 06-03-2016 at 10:23 AM.


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    Beautiful cat, Andre... a time to cherish to see and photograph this magnificent animal. One of God's gifts to us to be treasured. I wholeheartedly agree with you comments. Even though I mostly photograph birds the same is true for them and all creatures. Thank you for sharing.
    Joe Przybyla

    "Sometimes I do get to places just as God is ready to have somebody click the shutter"... Ansel Adams

    www.amazinglight.smugmug.com

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    Andre , thanks for sharing your notes on photographers behaviour as well as this stunning image. I am not widely traveled and know little about photographic tours and suchlike in your part of the world,but Keith's post mentions things I am aware of. I guess folks need educating the world over. Let's hope with time the message will get through and less stress will be put on the very subjects folks want to photograph.

    your image is beautifully crafted Andre Marc's repost is very interesting,the subtle degrees of excellance you guys work to are a constant source of both interest and joy to me. andre could you tell me where your point of focus is please,I'm very curious?

    Take care

    Stu

  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the comments!

    Keith- I think one gets photographers and then "Wild-life Photographers" which by MY definition is of the ethical kind. The perfect image and the perfect ethos is the ultimate goal, they go hand in hand..

    Marc- I have seen videos on some scenes captured there- crazy! I very often leave a sighting or just try and pass by if to many people, it just pushes my blood pressure up to be there and see what the idiots are doing...
    This image was about FF, and captured in the shade. Was afraid to push contrast more (even MT), needed detail in both whites around chin/cheek/neck /Springbok leg, and blacks at gums and the rosettes. I use to love TK, used it on
    every image, lately trying to not to- experimenting with only local applied adjustments with masked layers, only time will tell which route I will take.. Your RP is warmer with more MT contrast- but the of the detail in whites are less...?

    Joe- Thank you for the kind words!

    Stu- It is tough sometimes living in Africa, but there are some perks... Had to check again to make sure, the FP is on the left eye, I strive always to keep that red block on the eye, not always possible with a moving subject. (ps would love to shoot a Polar bear and
    a Tiger in their natural habitat- but the cost for a 2 week trip would equal more than a month in prime African bush..)
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Andre - I agree with your sentiments and observations. If your presence is stressing the animal or altering its behavior then move on. I hate the images of sightings where an animal like a leopard, cheetah or tiger is surrounded by vehicles with no path to escape. In Yellowstone we have additional problems of people trying to walk up to bison and elk to take selfies. We call them "Tourons."

    As to the image, good behavioral image. Yes, it might have been improved to have the entire impala in frame but not a deal breaker. Good detail, sharpness and low pov. I hope she continues to learn to hunt and stays away from the people.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Hi ANdre -- The image is very nice especially the way the leopard is popping against the greens even more so with Marc's RP . You have been posting some fantastic images recently and this is no exception .

    As far as unruly behaviour is concerned I think it will grow more and more especially with the wildcats as their numbers are coming down and Cameras are getting in hands of more and more people .

    TFS !

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Thank you Rachel and Haseeb!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Hi Andre. Great shot of this leopard. Lovely to see the greens from the Kalahari rains. I like what Marc has done with the little touches. TFS

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