I am sharing an image created in Bandhavgarh National Park in India. It was an incredible day in the summer of 2006. In the morning I saw a tigress fighting with a grown up male tiger to protect its kill. Then watched the tigress and cubs feasting on the kill followed by their cooling off in water.
I was photographing with a EOS10D at that time. Ran out of cards couple of times, downloaded into my laptop couple of times (infront of the tiger :D)...Actually, I was not prepared for such high intensity photographing for about six hours.
The mother and cub were swimming in the water. After about an hour or so, the mother called her cub and started swimming away with the cub following her. I wanted to show the cub following the mother, but could not think of a better way. I would appreciate your feedback especially on the composition as am not sure whether it works.
Canon EOS 10D, Canon EF 300mm f4 L IS USM, ISO 100, f4, 1/125 sec.
Cheers,
Sabyasaschi
Last edited by Sabyasachi Patra; 11-25-2008 at 10:56 AM.
Reason: typo
What I am now doing in these types of situations and I have too long a lens is a pano stitch. Make the image you did and then pan left and make an image of the other tiger. Stitch them later in PS. I would investigate cropping from the top or bottom for an alternate feel to this image.
Does it work with just the hind end of the front one in the image. I think it makes it look like the cub is following and as that is your intent, it works for me.
I think it works well and probably better than having the entire front tiger included Was considering a slight crop from the bottom but the grasses balance out the ones at the top so well !!
Very fine as presented and no changes for me !!! Big Congrats !!!
I'm going to disagree with the experts. I find a couple of things that distract my eyes from the power of the tiger swimming. The first is the somewhat noisy background. Second, the hind end of the tiger - it does not add anything to the image and pulls us from the beauty of the main subject, which I love. I would pano it in (at the time of course) or crop it out, I think that would make it a better photo.
I agree with removing the end of the front tiger. I like the colors and lighting of the main subject and feel that the inclusion of the habitat gives it more than enough to stand on its own. The curving line of the water's edge leads my eye towards the left edge (as viewed) anyway and makes the need for the other tiger unnecessary.
I think the facial expression on the main Tiger is strong enough to allow for a tighter crop, removing the front tiger totally and some but not all of the background.
It is a lovely setting. Well done.
Sabyasaschi, I think it works with or without the front tiger, but I think the stronger impact is this beautiful animal swimming in the green water as the sole subject.