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Thread: Spotlit Leopard

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Default Spotlit Leopard

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    I know this won't be everyone's cuppa. Taken at Djuma in the Sabi Sand. I had previously posted another spotlit image from this sighting of Tingana, a male leopard.

    Canon 5D3
    70-200 II @ 200mm
    1/180
    f2.8
    ISO 3200
    HH from safari vehicle, shot portrait, slight crop for comp, converted in ACR, curves, selective dodging and burning, sharpened in PSCC.

    C&C welcome and appreciated. Thanks,

    Rachel

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    The vertical composition works well here as does the black and white treatment. Looks good for the high ISO. How does this work does somebody light up the animals with a actually spotlight then everybody just shoots?

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks John - For this one we were 2 vehicles working together so the other vehicle put the spot on the leopard while we shot and vice versa. You can do it with one vehicle but it is often better with the light coming from another direction.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    I think it is beautiful and works a treat !

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Hello Rachel,

    Must be one of the highlights of your trip, lovely sighting

    I am enjoying this B/W conversion and particularly the way the subject "melts" into the dark background. This kind of image has always been always my cuppa, in fact I have a similar one on my bedroom wall - a canvas print by Brendon Cremer. It is not B/W though.

    I like this as presented, just wondering about the placement of the subject within the frame: I would personally crop a tad from the top. Love the walking pose and raised paw, mouth half open - this cat is on the prowl

    Thank you so much for sharing Rachel,

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Hey Rachel. I think the B&W reduces the appearance of the tyre tracks in the road, and focuses on the face nicely.
    Like you said, not everyone's cuppa - but I view leopards as I view zebras: they work nicely in mono in many situations (despite them having such a beautiful pelt in technicolor).
    I might have gone for less dead space on top given the walking direction diagonally downwards to the RHS?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thank you Basil, Gabriela and Morkel. I can take a look at cropping some from the top.

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    I infinitely like this better than the other leopard Rachel, this is excellent. I like the hint of detail in the surroundings and the leopard really pops. I think the angle this was was taken from was a little less inclined than previous also.

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Rachel ....the spotlight is highlighting the Leopard well .
    As i am not a fan of those night images ....i have to say sorry , does not work for me.
    TFS Andreas

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  15. #10
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Thanks Jon and Andreas. Yes Jon, this leopard was a little further away than the previous post. Andreas- I know you are not a fan of the spotlight images. No worries (and you did like one of my spotlit images from South Luangwa )

    Thanks again,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    indeed can happen at times

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    but I view leopards as I view zebras: they work nicely in mono in many situation
    Agree with Morkel, but that is because of the contrast you have in the subjects. I don't mind the angle, but may have made the road a tad darker to hide the tyre tracks a bit more. Sadly the choice of the degree of conversion may have amplified the techs, and so everything looks a bit more 'grainy' and so detail/form is lost.


    I might have gone for less dead space on top given the walking direction diagonally downwards to the RHS?
    Again I agree with Morkel, there is too much dead space above and below, the balance isn't working as presented, but cropping, will I fear, have an effect on the current IQ.

    TFS
    Steve

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