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Thread: Yawning for attention

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Yawning for attention

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    My first post for over 2½ months, my apologies, have been quite busy editing large numbers of images for work projects.

    Here a very relaxed sub adult female cheetah approaches my vehicle, lies down to stretch and yawn under an early evening sky on the open plains of Namiri/Serengeti.
    Her mother was also just feet away. Such a treat! (captured with monopod/custom bracket/rigged @ ground level + Camranger remote)

    This recent month long Ruaha/Namiri TZ trip has been one not easily forgotten.
    With lost bags, escaping a fatal plane crash by 24hrs, smashed D5 & 400 f/2.8 long lens combo, 4 ........yes 4 amazing Caracal sightings, a zebra birth, great close encounters with a cheetah mum and sub-adult to a magical last day sighting of a lioness walking & carrying her 3 x four week old cubs
    over 4 km from their birthplace in the marsh to their new Kopje home to join the rest of her 10 other siblings.

    Can't wait to return here again for the Gnu calving in 8 weeks time.

    Nikon D810
    Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 G2 (love this new VC equipped lens, every bit as good as the twice as expensive Nikkor VR version plus it's 41mm shorter!)
    f/6.3
    1/400s
    ISO1250@ 68mm.

    Cheers
    Marc
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 01-14-2018 at 05:55 AM.


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    Very impressive Marc. I love what you've done here and the use of the low POV and remotely triggered camera. Sorry to hear about all your dramas though. I do love the yawn and the splayed foreground paw in this one. I wondered when looking at this whether you'd done some with smaller aperture and more DOF - although clearly the yawn would have been a one-off. Either way, the plain and sky at dusk is magic. Not sure if you've caught up with the new posting size but I'd love to see this one bigger. Really wonderful work.

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    Absolutely fabulous, the icing on the cake is the little flick of the tail! Great use of the camranger to get this view.
    Greg

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Glenn

    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn Pure View Post
    Not sure if you've caught up with the new posting size but I'd love to see this one bigger. Really wonderful work.
    Have just checked out the new size limit posting from Peter and whilst I agree BPN needed to display larger, I feel a 1500/1600 longest side is a good compromise, provided we can stick with 600kb and implement "right click" protection.

    Here's a RP @ 1500 with output sharpening.
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 01-14-2018 at 02:08 PM.


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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I love the cheetah, some of the brightest areas in the sky look a little flattened to me.
    I agree about image size - I suggested likewise yesterday in the workflow forum 1600px seems to be logical to me as it is the size used in international/national competition.

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    Cool frame like the low perspective. I saw a behind the scene video of a nature documentary. Where they were using cameras on what looked like rc cars to get shots like this.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Marc - Welcome back. Sorry to hear about the travails of your recent trip but looking forward to seeing the fruits. Love the low pov that the rig and camranger gave you. The yawn is great with good sharpness and detail. Those teeth look very sharp too. I agree with Jon about the sky. I haven't tried posting at 1920 yet but think it was probably done because it matches WPOTY (and some other contests).

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Many thanks John, Rachel, Greg & Jonathan.

    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan Ashton View Post
    some of the brightest areas in the sky look a little flattened to me.
    If you could see the RAW file, it's a fitting tribute to the D810 that I was able to extract any detail at all from that completely dull/lifeless sky.


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    The repost at larger size really shows this off nicely. Thanks for doing it!

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    The Morkelscape emerges

    The hardships, I feel for you. Morkel really do!! Your ability is astounding at times, cherish that bit.

    Absolutely love the yawn stretched foot ,the two go together in so many folks I know. Adore POV

    It's as with so many before Morkel completely stunning to my eyes I find this incredibly difficult to critique Morkel, all I see is a once in a lifetime chance beautifully executed.

    I only have one small thing to offer,the boarder of sky to land is way too strong for that distance it needs some how softening. Is this something to do with how you have had to work on the sky Morkel??

    I'd ask will I ever see another image very very similar to this??????????????????
    TFS



    take care

    stu

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stuart Philpott View Post
    The Morkelscape emerges

    The hardships, I feel for you. Morkel really do!! Your ability is astounding at times, cherish that bit.

    Absolutely love the yawn stretched foot ,the two go together in so many folks I know. Adore POV

    It's as with so many before Morkel completely stunning to my eyes I find this incredibly difficult to critique Morkel, all I see is a once in a lifetime chance beautifully executed.

    I only have one small thing to offer,the boarder of sky to land is way too strong for that distance it needs some how softening. Is this something to do with how you have had to work on the sky Morkel??

    I'd ask will I ever see another image very very similar to this??????????????????
    TFS



    take care

    stu
    Many thanks Stu, and I know it's been a while since Morkel has posted, and will take that as a compliment, but this is a Marcscape.


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    Quote Originally Posted by Marc Mol View Post
    Many thanks Stu, and I know it's been a while since Morkel has posted, and will take that as a compliment, but this is a Marcscape.
    Oh Marc I'm so sorry, I should n't really post when so tired ,my humble apologies,I loved the image so much. I guess it's me and those letters again,I can't believe I did this.

    Anyway Marc what can I say I still adore the image and I feel the same admiration for both parties

    sorry mate !!

    stu

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  21. #13
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stuart Philpott View Post
    Oh Marc I'm so sorry, I should n't really post when so tired ,my humble apologies,I loved the image so much. I guess it's me and those letters again,I can't believe I did this.

    Anyway Marc what can I say I still adore the image and I feel the same admiration for both parties

    sorry mate !!

    stu
    No worries at all Stu, totally understand mate


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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Your trip paid off, this is such a cool frame Marc! Love the POV and relaxed pose from the cheetah ( I can almost see the tonsils, LOL!)

    Really like the RP at this new size, feels as if the subject is about to tumble onto my lap

    Keep them coming, cannot wait to see the Caracal...

    Kind regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Hi Marc -- Great to have you back ! That plane crash stuff sounds frightening !!

    Loved the perspective and those teeth look menacing. This is what BPN missed while you were away , I hope you will share with us some of the amazing sightings and moments that you have witnessed . A fantastic image !

    TFS !

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Marc sorry to hear the bad news and lucky to hear the good ones .....
    Hope you sorted all out .
    Stunning image of this cheetah and the pose and open jaw is simply great .....in parts the image has some velvia in it . Like it !!!!!
    Unique image, well created in the field.

    TFS Andreas

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    This is a great perspective and the pose works so well for it, Marc.
    Good to see an image of yours again, I have been too quiet as well of late.

    Had to chuckle at the mistaken identity above
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lifetime Member Mike Poole's Avatar
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    Coming from an underwater perspective, I absolutely adore close focus wide angle shots, as when they are dome well they are choc full of drama.

    Then you add the yawn into it and it just become something ridiculously special.

    I honestly dont know how this could be improved - wonderful pose, perfect framing with the horizon and even an interesting sky. Full marks from me

    Mike

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    I love this image Marc....One of my favorites of yours. Great image!

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    Hi Marc, I love the wide angle and low POV, the yawn is a bonus and the DOF is cool. Well done. Would love to see the image of the rig you use.

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Hi Sanjeev

    I tried to send you a PM, but your quota is full.

    My setup is quite simple really, just a monopod with a light/med ballhead flipped vertically and clamped via an L bracket on my Nikon, then connected via a short USB 3 "L" cable to my Camranger (white case) which can be controlled via either a tablet or my iPhone.
    Re, weight/flexibility, I've tested this up to my 80-400 with no problems.

    Cheers
    Marc
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 01-23-2018 at 09:00 AM.


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    Thank you marc, thanks for sharing this. Very interesting indeed. Cheers.
    Will free up space thanks for letting me know.

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