This tiger is ready to give a charge. It is hiding in the grasslands and watching intently at the waterhole.
Shot with Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon EF 300mm F4 L IS USM, Canon EF 1.4x converter. 1/800, f5.6 at 420 mm. ISO 320.
Last edited by Sabyasachi Patra; 03-10-2008 at 10:58 AM.
Reason: typographical errors
A beautiful, well composed image of this handsome tiger. The color of the tiger, and of the scene, is improved with the additional saturation. The hunting pose of the tiger that you captured is classic!
I'd say this was an awesome experience to see and document with the image presented. Definitely worth some extra work to make it pop as noted. Thanks for sharing this one.
I like this one best of all your tiger images Sabyasachi. Your tiger appears to have just bounded into the frame focused on whatever it is, there just enough environment to show it off yet not overwhelm, and the reflected water is a nice touch. I agree that it could use a bit more pop.
Steve
I would like to thank all of you for your comments. Thanks Alfred for the repost.
When I checked the photo now, I realised that the saturation is less. I immediately checked my files and realised the mistake. Yesterday, I was playing with the saturation levels and had converted three files using different saturation levels. The grass was appearing very green even when the saturation slider in Lightroom was at zero. I had kept the saturation level at zero and changed the vibrance. However, in the file uploaded the saturation was at -10 and tone curve was at linear. I hadn't planned to upload it but I was in a hurry to sleep. :-)
I was following this tigress for two days. She was about to chase a deer, but finally didn't. Else, I would have got some nice shots. I was fed up with tight crops. So was trying some environmental portraits. I was with this tigress for about 6 hours that day. On such days, you feel blessed.
Also, I was expecting the tiger to charge and had wanted a high shutter speed. So I had set the camera in apperture priority at 5.6. I guess, I could have gone up atleast a one or one and half stops higher. However, I am very bad at changing apperture when there is a sudden charge. Tiger gives a short charge, but it is lightning fast.
Infact, I have been charged at by tigers twice (all because of my fault). In one of those cases a tigress had charged directly and stopped within four feet of me, turned back and went away. (Unknowingly, I had come between the tigress and its cubs). And, I could not shoot as the tigress was within the minimum focussing distance within a split second - from 25 feet to about 4 feet. When she growled, the spit had fallen on me. However, two years have passed since the last time I was charged by a tiger. I guess, such incidents make you more careful. You start respecting nature more. :-)