Spotting a Tiger in Kanha is tougher than smaller places like Bandhavgarh/Ranthambhore due to the immense area this park covers. But, that's a part of the challenge and I love this place for the variety and scenic landscapes.
It was one of those days where one enters Kanha National Park on an extremely cold,foggy morning right before sunrise and takes a right turn instead of taking the usual pilgrimage routes.
We were the only jeep on this road, my guide said "I have a feeling, we will see the Kisli range male today". Within a minute (5 minutes after entering the park), a loud Sambar siren fills the air. My guide spots a Tiger walking in a nullah to our right, guess what, it's the KISLI KING !!! I struggle to get the 2x tele off of my 300(had left it on the evening before)...haha lesson learned forever !! I had no idea that I would be spotting a tiger minutes after entering the park. An absolutely private sighting with the King followed, we quickly moved our jeep forward, let him come on the road, gave him space. He walked for a few minutes towards us, then stopped for a bit, stared at us, then took off peacefully using a shortcut into the thicket.
Oh, what a sighting this was...it's tough to see a tiger in private these days considering the heavy traffic and typical routes everyone takes. Our risk had paid off. The light was so low that it was only due to the f/2.8 aperture and high ISO capabilities of the 7D that I could pull this shot off. 1/125 sec was the max speed I was getting that early morning at ISO 3200, good enough for a sharp shot ! I even underexposed a bit to get a bit better than 1/80 SS. This camera has amazed me, be it AF or high ISO performance or the 18MP or other high-end features. Had it been another lens and another camera (well, not really, but you get the point)....this would have just remained a sighting, not a photo-op. Of course, the King didn't move when I took this shot...so thanks to him too. Ah, the taste of this sighting still lingers.......
Now, you see, this animal gave me 10 seconds to re-adjust some settings, unlike those leopards...grr. :-)
Techs: EOS 7D, 300 2.8 IS at ISO 3200, 1/125 sec, -1/3 exposure comp, beanbag on jeep, pre-dawn, full frame, no NR.
PP: Sharpening, levels adjustment, resizing and blur tool on the bg.
Regards,
Kiran







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