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Thread: Poised Leopard

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Poised Leopard

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    Another shot of the young female we followed around in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Further to Tom's remarks about eye contact - this has no eye contact, but I like it a lot. The pose, the tension in her body as she scans the savannah...

    Would love your thoughts?

    Techs:
    Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 400mm
    f5.6 @ 1/500 SS @ ISO-3200
    Exp +0.7

    I was on auto ISO to ensure sharp images, and punched exposure compensation to the right to minimise noise.
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Hey Morkel,
    I like the "wall" of light formed by the two sunlit clumps of grass and the opening she's peeking through. The shadowed, darker back and the hint of light on the face makes me feel I'm tagging along for the hunt. It also makes me curious as to what I'd see if I was out in the sun looking back at her. Cool image.

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Yeah, Steve put it well. A wall of light with her head looking through. And I'm a sucker for unusual lighting. Her head turned enough so that we know she is looking at something. And like very much your framing of her. (No eyes doesn't bother me here ;) ). Don't know if I feel her tension? But suppose if she were relaxed, she would not be stretched forward like that and but sitting back on rear?
    BTW, not important, but since I've been to Madikwe Reserve (once) which camp/lodge were you at?

    Tom
    ps - when I say the thumbnail I thought: ho-hum a standing leopard looking away. But her sitting really make big difference I think.
    Last edited by Tom Graham; 05-13-2010 at 10:01 PM. Reason: added ps

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    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
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    The leopard and her colours pop so well from the surrounding grasses, and I like how she is peering throgh the opening of the grasses.

  5. #5
    Ken Watkins
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    Great light and pose on this image, I might take a bit off the right to eliminate some of the green twigs. Any ideas as to what she was looking at?

  6. #6
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks for the kind comments guys...

    Tom she was actually NOT sitting, but standing upwards on a little incline.

    Ken she had an impala kill in a tree nearby, and almost went for another one who approached the tree while she was feeding. My guess here (based on her later behaviour) was that she was intently checking out the tree with her kill in to see if there were intruders/scavengers close by.
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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Interesting Morkel about her actual posture, thanks.
    I agree with Ken about green twigs on right, I'd not crop but clone them out.
    I'd also maybe, perhaps, like to do something with the gray OOF grass in very front, but not sure what? Perhaps turn it greenish to match the other grass there?
    Tom

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Well done here Morkel, her arched back and poise.........says everything about my favourite predator.
    TFS


  9. #9
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks for your comments Marc & Tom

    Marc - glad you like it!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    One fantastic behaviour shot Morkelbhai
    TFS

  11. #11
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    thanks Bhai! glad you like it...
    Morkel Erasmus

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