Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Madikwe Leopard

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

    Default Madikwe Leopard

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Just returned from a very productive trip to Dullstroom (on the South African highlands - trout fishing and landscape photography!) and the Madikwe Game Reserve.

    Our time in Madikwe was awesome, and we spent more time than most other guests in the field due to the fact that we were visiting a friend who is a lodge manager/ranger there.

    Madikwe takes more pride (excuse the pun) in its lion sightings than leopard sightings, but we were stoked to be able to spend some time with this young female last night. She had the last remains of an impala kill up a tree, and almost struck another one who ventured close, but gave up before committing to it.

    This shot was lit with spotlight from the front of the game drive vehicle, and I put my new Canon 7D to the high ISO test here. The tree was a bit cluttered but I quite like this one. This was shot quite a while after sunset.

    All comments and critique most welcome...

    Techs:
    Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
    f5.6 @ 1/160 SS @ ISO-6400
    Exp +0.3
    handheld shot
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  2. #2
    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Southern California, Orange County
    Posts
    1,116
    Threads
    33
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Good for a night shot with spotlight. Good even light and color as spotlights are very warm, AWB or did you adjust in PP? Nice to have ISO 6400 so good when you need it.

    I was at Madikwe Hills Lodge for 5 nights in May of 2007, but saw no leopard. Having a friend who is ranger there is the best way to go!!! FWIW, Madikwe Reserve is not in the top half of my list of game reserves. I'd just as soon go to Kruger.
    Tom

  3. #3
    Alfred Forns
    Guest

    Default

    Welcome back Morkel !!! Sure like this capture, light worked nice and there is enough of the clean animal to admire with both eyes clearly visible !!!

    Great going pushing the ISO to obtain a sharp image !!! Like it a lot !!!

  4. #4
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thanks Tom and Alfred.

    Tom you must've had a sloppy guide and unfortunate sightings? As one who goes to Kruger twice to thrice annually, I can honestly say the quality of the sightings and the diversity of Madikwe are better, especially since the reserve is quite small compared to Kruger. We had lion next to the car in great light multiple times, pack of wild dogs next to the vehicle, leopard in tree as seen above etc. Some drives were quite-ish but other times it really came alive. Saw lion, leopard, wild dog, brown hyena, black rhino, white rhino, elephant, impala, springbok, blue wildebeest, plains zebra, kudu and African Wild Cat in one day...
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  5. #5
    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

    Nice use of spotlight/low ISO here Morkel, I like this through the shrub perspective peek.
    What I am disappointed in is your expected change to Nikon with your new 7D purchase.:eek::p:p
    TFS


  6. #6
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Delhii, India
    Posts
    3,690
    Threads
    269
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Morkel,
    It is good that you got the eyes in the clear. Any NR treatment? Good to know that you got some fine sightings. Look forward to the images.

    Cheers,
    Sabyasachi

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Somewhere in the world
    Posts
    20,551
    Threads
    1,285
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Morkel, welcome back.

    Perhaps a little cluttered, but you have done well under the circumstances. Could tone it down a fraction as it looks a fraction warm, but this is on a personal view. what I do like is to see the Leopard with a meal, encouraging. :)

    Great going pushing the ISO to obtain a sharp image
    Not sure how far you can go?

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  8. #8
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    thank you Steve, Sabya & Marc.

    Marc - the move is still on the cards but I won't settle for anything less than a D3s and 200-400, 14-24, 70-200 combo and don't have those funds now...and HAD to get a better camera for my current system as I have a few trips lined up.

    Sabya - no NR done on the leopard and branch, only one or two rounds on the dark patches and OOF leaves surrounding the cat.

    Steve - standard setting goes to 6400, can be expanded but I won't push it farther than this! :)
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  9. #9
    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

    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    Marc - the move is still on the cards but I won't settle for anything less than a D3s and 200-400, 14-24, 70-200 combo and don't have those funds now...and HAD to get a better camera for my current system as I have a few trips lined up.
    Gotcha ;).
    Very happy with my new D3s purchase, and Kenya/Tanz awaits in 4 months.:D


  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Auranagabad ( MS ) India
    Posts
    12,833
    Threads
    766
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Mighty fine image Morkelbhai , big congrats for this
    TFS

  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

    thanks Harshadbhai...Marc, enjoy that camera, still my dream camera!
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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