A profile of a leopard blending in with the environs at Timbavati reserve, SA. The colour of fried grasses and branches were so similar to the leopard coat.
5D III
500mm II
1/200 (resting on a bean bag)
f/4
ISO 1600 (should have upped to 3200) but was till plenty sharp.
The colours really show how well the Leopard blends into the environment here Sanjeev, like the framing and intense stare.
The finer detail looks/appears a bit crunchy and the shallow DoF I feel hasn't help on the defining 'form' so you don't have that 3D effect I think Sanjeev, but lets see what others may think.
Perhaps Sanjeev if you 'double process' so you darken & tweak the BKG, then slightly darken the brighter elements of the Leopard and reduce some of the contrast and bring a bit more 'warmth' to him, then mask and combine the two, you get a little more separation and control over the whole image and helps to create that 3D look I referred too?
Lovely portrait of this elusive cat, Sanjeev. He is really beautiful. And indeed blends so well with the environment here. Nice framing and wonderful colours, HA is perfect.
I also noticed a bit of "crunchiness" in the OP ( especially around the eye and ear) which Steve has corrected in his version. And I tend to agree with him regarding DoF, a little more would not have hurt: on the contrary, it would have helped separate the leopard from the BG by giving the subject more definition. Lastly, 1/200s...whew, a bit risky. I was told the simple act of pressing the shutter causes movement
Thank you so much for sharing, hope you have a super week-end,
Leopard Camo
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