Sabi Sands, a private game reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park. We waited for this big guy to come down from a tree, as he had just eaten, and we were between him and a dam, where we knew he would want to drink. He came next to us, and we followed him to the dam. This is full frame. I liked how I managed to get the exposure right using the vehicle spot light, and my flash.
Canon 20D
24-105 IS @ FL 75mm
1/250
Manual Exposure
F/4
ISO 400
Stuart,
Wildlife researchers would love the side on capture. Shows up the spots well.
However, I am not a big fan of using flash in the night. Some how I am never happy with the lighting of the background even when the foreground and subject is lit well. It is my individual preferences but doesn't take away anything from your image. I would have loved some more space in the front and crop a bit from the top.
I can imagine the feeling when you are so close to a leopard.
I mimic's Sabyasachi comment on the flash and how it lights the BG. I will do this with birds but go for a completely dark BG while using the flash for the bird only.
The cat looks great but I would have preferred a lower perspective.