Sunrise leopard

[Marc Mol]

6.33am and a 4 yr old male leopard is on dawn patrol.

As we were wedged in tight to a large boulder with no room for repositioning, I would have loved to see him take another step forward to have clear separation, but it is what it is.

Kogatende, Northern Serengeti- TZ.

Bean bag front pax seat, F/F, boosted the orange & yellow vibrancy in the sky, TK adj's, curves, levels in ACR & PS CC' 20.

Nikon D5
Nikkor 400 f/2.8E FL VR
1/1250s
f/4
ISO110

1400px wide.

Cheers
Marc

[John Mack]

Very nice. Really like the color of this image and the composition works very well.

[greg cowle]

Not the normal way having the subject looking away from the camera, but it works well here. The dark ground and tree frame this well as the leopard looks towards the top right quadrant.

[Marc Mol]

Many thanks John & Greg.

Not the normal way having the subject looking away from the camera, but it works well here.

Whilst I agree Greg, having this male look away from the camera isn't ideal, however had I not raised the shadow detail on the subject one would have no idea as to the direction it was looking granted this is primarly a silhouette.

I had to raise the shadow detail just to check as to his actual direction of view.

[Gabriela Plesea]

I like this, Marc. Colours are lovely and framing works - a well balanced image. What makes the story for me is the subject emerging from vegetation and looking into the distance, as if watching the sunrise. It is as if he just woke up. There's a dreamy quality to this image and a tranquility I enjoy.

The swishy tail is great. I also like those long grasses, as well as those barely visible in the FG. Wish he sat down and gave you a couple more images! But I am happy with this as presented - thank you so much for sharing, a pleasure to view!

Kind regards,

[Basil Dardagan]

Really like this - imho when you photograph an animal looking away from the camera it leaves far less room for error and the image 'must work'. This works brilliantly

[Jonathan Ashton]

An appealing image Marc, you have processed it very well indeed. I like the faint detail in the leopard and also I like the light glancing off the horizontal grasses on the RHS, I think they contain the leopard nicely.

[haseeb badar]

Very nice concept Marc and it totally works for me. Like your thinking process and the end result. beautifully done.

That Tail adds to the image.

TFS !