Leopard and Kill

[Grant Atkinson]

Canon 1Dmk3, Canon 70-200f2.8is, 580EX flash. Handheld from a vehicle. S/speed 1/300s, f/5.6, iso 400. Metering Evaluative, Ai Servo. Subject dist 6.1m. Cropped from 10 to 9.5mp. focal length 75mm. Location Savuti, Botswana. 23 Nov, 16h43pm. Heavily overcast so I used flash. Processed in ACR 6 and CS5. This female leopard had killed an impala and dragged it into cover on the termite mound. She was about to begin feeding on it and was watching out for competitors.
Would have been better if she had looked at me but I wanted to throw this one out there and see what people think.
cheers
Grant

www.grantatkinson.com

[Rachel Hollander]

Grant - I don't mind that she's not looking at you, she's clearly guarding her meal. I really like that the curl of the tail peeks out from the other side of the termite mound. Well composed, seen and done.

TFS,
Rachel

[Harshad Barve]

Very well seen and executed , Leo just pops up here
TFS

[Grant Atkinson]

Thanks for the feedback Rachel and Harshad. I am finding the flash quite useful on overcast days, and even when dialed back a bit, or at a distance, it picks up well on the white in the leopards coat.
I took a whole series of shots at this sighting, at focal lengths from 70mm to 300mm, and from different positions, but in this one I wanted to include the termite mound, and the trees, which are an important part of the leopards habitat here...
thanks again
cheers
Grant

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Grant, not really working for me on this one, just find everything is vying/competing with each other, sorry matey.

How comfortable was she with the use of flash, did it spook her, or did she take it in her stride? BTW was this taken near the channel by chance, as that is where I got the mating Leopards? Anything around the stockade at the front of the lodge?

Nice to have you back posting though. :)

Steve

[Shreyas Mantri]

Thanks for the feedback Rachel and Harshad. I am finding the flash quite useful on overcast days, and even when dialed back a bit, or at a distance, it picks up well on the white in the leopards coat.
I took a whole series of shots at this sighting, at focal lengths from 70mm to 300mm, and from different positions, but in this one I wanted to include the termite mound, and the trees, which are an important part of the leopards habitat here...
thanks again
cheers
Grant

Nice shot, Grant! Regarding shooting with flash, I'm gonna try that myself...had a rough time dealing with heavy overcast in Alaska myself, but never tried the flash because of the distance. Will keep that in mind if I get fortunate to see Leopards in the wild :)
Btw, I remember the Leopard habitat as mentioned by you from "Eye of the Leopard" by the Jouberts....it adds to the story of the picture!

Shreyas

[Rachel Hollander]

Grant - curious about use of flash in Botswana. I seem to remember being told no flash allowed in Chobe and on Chief's Island. Though several tourists with P&S didn't seem to know how to shut their flashes off. In South Africa, at least in the Sabi Sands, Timbavati and Kapama Reserves where night drives are done, I was told flash was ok in most circumstances though I always asked my Ranger before using the flash. On one occasion an ellie seemed disturbed by it so we stopped using flash. In general, is there more leniency about using flash or fill flash now?

Thanks for any insight.

Rachel

[Grant Atkinson]

Thanks again for all the comments, they are much appreciated. Steve, this was taken close to the Linyanti River. At Savuti, the river is once again flowing, so the logpile hide/stockade is now under water, as are the other three pumped waterholes in the channel (Rock Pan, Dish Pan and Mantshwe). There is now a 90km long waterhole :). Your view on the shot appreciated, I was uncertain hence my posting...
Shreyas, thanks for commenting, glad you liked the shot.
Rachel, in the private concessions the use of flash is allowed. Chobe is a Nat. Park, and Moremi Game Reserve covers much of Chiefs Island. This shot was taken in daylight, though it was quite gloomy. I dont think it is as bothersome to animals in daylight as in the dark. This particular cat ignored the flash. I dont personally do any night photography of mammals using flash. Ellies usually dont react too well to either a flash or a bright spotlight being shone directly on them.
Cheers
Grant

[Hilary Hann]

I think the photo is an interesting "documentary" type of image rather than an exciting image which draws the eye. It shows the environment and I think the flash has worked to enhance not detract.

As far as flash use, we have used flash with our horse photography for decades and the horse's (even young 2yo racehorses) don't even register that the flash has fired. There was considerable research back in the '70s regarding this which led to authorities allowing flash on the racecourse. Possibly different species react differently which may account for the elephants more sensitive reaction. The main reason I would never want to use flash at night as it will effect night vision, whether the animals are disturbed by the firing or not.

[Danny J Brown]

Grant,

I enjoyed looking at this photo and I'm in awe of the strength of big cats as usual. Looks like this one killed and dragged a full grown deer. The termite mound is too much for me as a the foreground element but I'm still glad I got to see this slice of nature. Thanks.

DB

[Morkel Erasmus]

I like how the leopard pops from the busy surroundings, and don't really mind that she's not giving you the eye here, Grant. However, I'm with Steve as this isn't really your strongest shot - if there was maybe a bit less termite mound in the foreground it would have been better. I do like how the different elements have a "3D" feel to them when viewing.

[Grant Atkinson]

Thanks for all the comments. Hilary, you are right that using flash at night will affect an animals night vision, I don't photograph mammals at night.
Danny and Morkel, thanks for your feedback, all appreciated, and it all helps in getting an idea of what to look for next time...
Cheers
Grant

[Ken Watkins]

I am with Steve and Morkel on this one, everything is "muddled up".

IMHO the use of flash should be uneccessary especially on prey species.

[Stu Bowie]

Grant, the leopard pops nicely against the tree trunk. IMHO, I would have liked to see more of the tree, and more of the leopard. Being where you are, Im sure you will get plenty of opportunities to get more than your fair share of these type of images.

[Todd Frost]

Good comments above, I'm leaning with Steve and Morkels' thoughts here. I am not a big fan of flash in this type of situation. Would love to get a look at these cats one day.
TFS
Todd

[Steve Canuel]

Hi Grant,
I don't have any problems with the flash look here but I personally find the image too "blocky". I enjoy most of your work on here but for this one I see 4 big chunks with little bits of animal poking out here and there and nothing really tying it all together. I'm sure its an "interpretation of ink blots" type of thing on my end :).

[Stu Bowie]

Grant, Not sure what I was thinking when I posted my comment. I meant to say I would liked to have seen more of the leopard, and more of the kill.:o

[Morkel Erasmus]

interesting to have your thoughts on photographing at night, Grant.
what about the use of spotlights from the side as done in the Sabi Sands - ie no flash?