Tucked away Servals
Here are the two Serval kittens contently tucked away in their den, taken whilst being at a reasonable distance away and then leaning at an acute angle to get this view. Unlike another vehicle which most likely was trying to do the same thing, just a whole lot closer and subsequently collapsed the den site completely. We had hoped these two survived OK.
D3s 500VR 1/160 ISO400@f/6.3 Masai Mara, Kenya
C & C most welcome
Cheers
Marc
Hi Marc you were very lucky and top marks for making the most of this rare opportunity.
The head resting on the other one is very endearing, especially as you have a good, low POV with the face looking directly into camera, engaging with the viewer. However, and you knew I would have a thought, LOL:D, I just find the vegetation either side a little distracting, therefore I might suggest a vertical crop using the full height of the image and placing the head central within frame. You get the environment of the den framing it top & bottom, but it cuts away the distracting vegetation to me and retains that engaging look. Either way, nicely done and the colour/detail looks good to me.
TFS
Steve ;)
Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.
Wow, what a great sighting and den photo to boot. Den photos are always a major challenge. Steve's suggestion is a good one, I think, without losing the den environment. Excellent angle you managed without endangering the servals. Too bad the other vehicle was so ethically challenged. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Steve,Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski
Hi Marc you were very lucky and top marks for making the most of this rare opportunity.
The head resting on the other one is very endearing, especially as you have a good, low POV with the face looking directly into camera, engaging with the viewer. However, and you knew I would have a thought, LOL:D, I just find the vegetation either side a little distracting, therefore I might suggest a vertical crop using the full height of the image and placing the head central within frame. You get the environment of the den framing it top & bottom, but it cuts away the distracting vegetation to me and retains that engaging look. Either way, nicely done and the colour/detail looks good to me.
TFS
Steve ;)
How did I know you would have an alternative :p:p:D:D:D
I also found the OOF vegetation a little distracting, (should have added that I masked it down by -1 exp value) but to me it also frames the image quite well, also I wanted to show more of his brother being used as a pillow;)...... that's just my feeling anyway.
Here's your suggested crop, which I also see as a good alternative.
Last edited by Marc Mol; 11-14-2010 at 06:43 PM.
Marc, lovely photo of an amazing opportunity. More importantly (for me), did you report the other vehicle? This is an important step to try and prevent these things happening in the future.
Marc,
Great capture of these two together.
Regarding the vegetation, I find the one on the right most distracting, the left not nearly as much. A bit higher elevation would have gotten the right one lower and less obtrusive and that is preferable to the crop IMO.
Well done.
Marc - another great sighting. Too bad about the vegetation, I too find it distracting but the crop loses some of the den effect. Not sure what could be done other than a different angle which isn't always possible. Still a sighting I would love to have seen, an image I'd be proud to have.
TFS,
Rachel
Thanks Robert
I was about as high as could get, standing on the roof, just to get this angle.
I think at the time this was the best angle of the intrusive OOF veg on the RHS.
Wonderful catch...I think I prefer the OP only because it has more of the den effect; sad story.
I loved the OP here Marc , One great moment and you have done supremely well here
TFS
This is insane and sad story indeedjust a whole lot closer and subsequently collapsed the den site completely
Hi Mark,
Thought i would let you & everyone know that the Servals Kittens had moved out of the den 3 or 4 days before the idiot drove up on the mound, Michelle & i found them on Rhino ridge in some rocks & long grass were they belong, we left them alone so they wouldnt get harassed anymore,
& btw we found out who the driver was, a stand in driver for a budget camp & yes he was reported!!
Cheers
www.africanatureimages.com
Thank you Ken, I am so relieved to hear that update, as would most animal lovers. Glad the driver was reported, hope it will do some good.
Good news Ken, thanks for the update!;)
Marc,
The OP is far superior IMHO, the vegetation was there you captured it! Rather than crop it you could make it less noticable.
Fabulous sighting
There will always be stupid drivers and guides but they are only doing what the think there customers want, and by and large they do it for tips.
Thanks for the feedback Marc. I would not have guessed you were up that high. :)
no problem with the OP here, Marc, as I feel the surroundings frame them nicely. Good to know they survived!!
gorgeous sighting and eye contact all around
Last edited by Morkel Erasmus; 11-16-2010 at 12:07 AM.
Another superb opportunity captured well. The OP works better for me, just a tad sharp for my taste!
This must be one amazing a trip for you, seems like you caught all the exotics in one go:)
Cheers
Shreyas
Great news. Thanks for the update.
I like both versions of your image. I think I prefer the OP because, in spite of the vegetation, it seems more complete to me. I think the repost is too tight. I like that I can see the ears of the serval that has her back to the camera.
Andrew
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