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Thread: Mambiri and Mantwane

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Mambiri and Mantwane

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    Just returned from an amazing albeit short trip to the Sabi-Sands Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park. I am still working through images from last September but couldn't resist preparing two from this trip for upload.

    This leopard female is called "Mambiri" and her cub "Mantwane". They are both gorgeous and gave us quite the show. The first night of our visit we saw them feeding on a fresh kill but it was in a thicket so dense you could barely make out the movement.

    On our final morning in the "Sands", they made up for it though! We followed them around for more than an hour, and mostly we were the only safari vehicle left since the other vehicles from other lodges had their "lists ticked" and moved on. We got to enjoy these 2 immensely all on our own.

    I can highly recommend the facilities, staff and game rangers at Leopard Hills if anyone is inbound to South Africa sometime.

    All comments welcome!

    Techs:
    Nikon D300s with Nikkor 200-400mm VR @ 400mm
    f4.0 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO-400
    This is 80% of full frame
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 02-22-2010 at 05:41 PM.
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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Very nice front on, good eye contact image Morkel, with the raised paw enhancing here.
    To me the cub in the BG is a little distracting and perhaps a crop to vertical here with just the facing Leopard?
    Have you re-hired or now bought the Nikon gear?



    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    I can highly recommend the facilities, staff and game rangers at Leopard Hills if anyone is inbound to South Africa sometime.
    I agree as well Morkel, so much so that my wife and I got married here 6 years ago! With a 5 night stay.
    If you love Leopards, this is one of the best locations in the SSGR.
    How is Marius? We had him as our guide back then, a wonderful guy and he has come on leaps and bounds in his photography too, but what great subjects and opportunities he gets! I'm extremely jealous!:D

    Cheers
    Marc


  3. #3
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks Marc...

    The Nikon gear was once again loaned, still weighing up my options on the exact kit I would like. I actually had the use of the D300s, D700 and D3s with various lenses on this trip, so I've now got a good idea what I'm looking for.

    Marius is great and he really was an excellent guide. He is a top photographer too - yeah how can we compare with those opportunities on a daily basis? :)

    Regarding the comp - I wanted to crop out the cub and make on with just mum, but I sooo wanted to share the double sighting ;) - I've got loads of images and will post more as I process them.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hey, I asked for a TINY cub :-). You even had a sample from me for reference...

    Haha, nice shot, coming right at you. That dappled lighting..umm.

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    Morkelbhai , I may go for vert with mom only , beautiful image and lucky you that Leopard is walking towards you, I liked that dappled light here
    TFS

  6. #6
    Todd Frost
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    Nice image and sighting. I would also think a vert would be appropriate but it sounds as if you have plenty more to share with us:). Mixed light handled well. Good luck on your equipment decision. TFS
    Todd

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Understand and appreciate you wanting to post your dual sighting. Sometimes we just want to try and share our experiences with others who enjoy the animals we all post. And personally having no experience with Africa other than nature shows and old Tarzan movies, I enjoy looking at all these pictures from there as well as India and hearing about the conditions under which they were taken. And it sounds like you took care of business and got the vertical :). Looking forward to more.

  8. #8
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks for the kind comments everyone...I'll be sure to share some more of these 2 as I get round to processing the images...
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  9. #9
    Ken Watkins
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    Great image, but I am unsure about the rear leopard.

    Your comment about list tickers has brightened up my morning in a remarkably cold and dull morning here in Norwich, UK!

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    I like the difference and especially since it's not a stand alone shot and more than good enough as is, no need to crop this one... or only from the left - just my thought.

  11. #11
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    Hey Mate, lucky you in Sabi. Ive read your reasoning, and accept it as is. For me, this screams vertical from the word go, and just love the head on approach. Love the raised paw, and I would chase the flies. Great sighting mate.

  12. #12
    Alfred Forns
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    Hi Morkel Fine image !!!

    Would keep the rear animal if part was not clipped, in this case rather see the one coming at me !! It is high impact and has a great bg !!! ... must have been an experience !!!!

  13. #13
    Callie de Wet
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    GREen gRREEN! What can I say, I think you did well, colour wise I am impressed. She is a lovely cat, 4 months to go, can’t wait! I know the feeling, but agree with Alfred re the part crop on the cub.

  14. #14
    Roman Kurywczak
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    Hey Morkel,
    Don't you just love it when the list tickers move on!!! Agree with the vert......so loking forward to seeing more!

  15. #15
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks for the comments Callie, Alfred, Stu, Paul and Ken!

    the masses have spoken...here is a vertical, flies chased away. I chose to leave her off-center...
    Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 02-23-2010 at 03:17 PM.
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    That improves things Morkel,

    tfs

    Austin

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    Marvellous image. Repost is even better

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