Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: African Wild Cat

  1. #1
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,032
    Threads
    64
    Thank You Posts

    Default African Wild Cat

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Another one from our recent trip to Kgalagadi. What a wonderful place to visit.

    The African Wild Cat is also known as the Desert Cat and are the ancestors of the Domestic Cat. They are mainly active during the night and twilight and in the daytime it usually hides in the bushes, although it is sometimes active on dark, cloudy days.

    Canon EOS 40D
    Canon 100-400 Lens
    ISO 400
    Aperture F7.1
    Shutter Speed 1/160 sec
    Focal Lenght 100mm
    No Flash
    Aperture Priority

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Auranagabad ( MS ) India
    Posts
    12,833
    Threads
    766
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    beautiful image , lovely compo and details , I am loving lighting here
    TFS

  3. #3
    Ken Watkins
    Guest

    Default

    This is tremendous!

    Not only have you got a picture of a rarely captured animal (certainly in daylight), you have got a marvelous image full stop!

  4. #4
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    My sentiments exactly Ken, I have some at ISO 1600/3200 indicating very low light, but to get a Wild Cat in daylight with great lighting and clarity makes for a real winner!


  5. #5
    DanWalters
    Guest

    Default

    Love the light and the eyes! Also like the way the cat is framed by the tree.

  6. #6
    Fabs Forns
    Guest

    Default

    You can see how closely our kitties resemble the model :)
    Great framing by the tree and good looking image. TFS.

  7. #7
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Delhii, India
    Posts
    3,690
    Threads
    269
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Superb image. Seeing a wild cat without any obstructions and in good light is simply amazing experience. Well done.

    Cheers,
    Sabyasachi

  8. #8
    Lifetime Member philperry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Africa
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    25
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful image Hendri. Super lighting and great expression. One of my favourite animals.

    With 100mm you must have got a really close view! I just hope I get that lucky on my first digital foray to Kgalagadi next year.

  9. #9
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
    Posts
    316
    Threads
    18
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hendri, Very lucky find and an image to do it justice. I especially like the light through the ears.

  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    1,889
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Fabulous shot Hendri. Great eye contact and IQ!

  11. #11
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    you had gorgeous light and a close sighting! I see you're holding back on the best sightings of your trip :)
    this is marvelous!!

    one question - did you apply some additional blur to the BG? my experience with the 100-400 is that the BG isn't normally this nicely blurred @ 100mm...:D
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  12. #12
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like the light cast on the cats head, and with good eye contact too. Good sharpness throughout, and nicely framed between the two trees. The highlight spot between the legs draws my eyes there. Great sighting and well captured mate.

  13. #13
    ChasMcRae
    Guest

    Default

    I am curious how you got this fantastic portrait with 100 mm of zoom ? Was he baited ? or habituated ? just luck ? called in ?seen before in the area ?
    I have a fair pic of one on the hard pan of Etosha,Namibia but shot with 500mm(poss extender )and also shot in the day as it sunned near thin tuft of grass.
    Would love to hear more of the story.

  14. #14
    Lifetime Member philperry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Africa
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    25
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Charles I am sure that Hendri will answer your query. But from my experience in the Kgalaladi you can get lucky and come across an African wildcat right next to the road. They particularly like the thorn trees that line the river bed roads and if you see the cat in time you can get really close. I managed to do that once some years ago and it was only when I paused from taking pictures that I saw that the cat had a kitten just below her in the fork of the thorn tree.

  15. #15
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,032
    Threads
    64
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks to all for all the great comments. It is highly appreciated.

    Charles, Phil is quite correct with his explanation. What happened in this case is the cat walked across the road and when she/he spotted us approaching jupmped up in a tree right next to the road. We could only managed a few shots before it decided this is to close for comfort and jupmed out and run to another tree further away. We've actually spotted a few cats close to the road in camel thorn trees during our stay but not so nice in the open as this one.

    Good luck with your trip next year Phil. I'm sure you will take home some stunning pics.

  16. #16
    Judy Lynn Malloch
    Guest

    Default

    Very striking image and the lighting is beautiful and just the right amount in IMO. Outstanding Hendri. thanks for sharing.

  17. #17
    ChasMcRae
    Guest

    Default

    Thanks Hendri for the story. I love the stories and will have to google this location.

  18. #18
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Anchorage
    Posts
    394
    Threads
    42
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    This leaves me conflicted. I don't like cats (which this looks so much like, including a nemesis of mine stlaking the birds in my yard) but I love this image. Well done Hendri.

  19. #19
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,032
    Threads
    64
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks very much for the lovely comments Judy, Charles and Declan.

  20. #20
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    York, England
    Posts
    229
    Threads
    15
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great shot of a familiar form in its wild state. I like it as it is. But, as a suggestion for an alternative post process, I wonder if adding a little darkness to the corners might show off the almost spotlight-like light on the animal.

  21. #21
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    1,032
    Threads
    64
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks John. Will give your suggestion a try.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics