Look what I got for Christmas 2

[Ken Watkins]

The same male Leopard as before, taken in Kwara concession, Okavango Delta, Botswana, 25th December 2010.

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 IS hand-held from open game viewing vehicle (50% crop)

6.3, ISO 800, 1/640

[Gary Hamilton]

Great details and sharpness. My eyes just keep wandering around that face, finding more and more to like. Just one nit: you might want to do some work on the trees/branches in the background as they are a bit distracting. Well done. Cheers.

[Rachel Hollander]

Ken - looks like it held up well to the crop. I like the open mouth and pose.

TFS,
Rachel

[Morkel Erasmus]

sure was a great present Ken :)

lovely specimen and oodles of detail to take in
DOF just right.

I don't mind the branches behind, as I live in Africa and know that most times one is lucky if you get nothing in FRONT of the animal hehe

[Harshad Barve]

this is fantastic image man
TFS

[Hilary Hann]

I like this as presented Ken. I think you've chosen a good crop, not knowing what the whole image comprised, but this looks good. A good traditional portrait which I think anyone would be happy to have.

[Todd Frost]

Very well done Ken. Techs are spot on and good detail on the leopard. Dont mind the bg on this. Beautiful portrait.
TFS
Todd

[Ken Watkins]

I don't mind the branches behind, as I live in Africa and know that most times one is lucky if you get nothing in FRONT of the animal hehe

Well said Morkel, very few perfect BG's are available for animals, and you cannot remove every errant stick, at least I cannot.

Hilary the head was on the RHS the "missing" half is the back of the body, no legs:eek::eek:

Thanks to everybody else for your kind comments.

[Russell Johnson]

Good head & whiskers shot, ken.

[DanWalters]

Beautiful portrait! Really like the eyes and the open mouth.

[Vivaldo Damilano]

What a nice Christmas present Ken you got here. A great leopard portrait TFS

[Robert Amoruso]

Well said Morkel, very few perfect BG's are available for animals, and you cannot remove every errant stick, at least I cannot.

Hilary the head was on the RHS the "missing" half is the back of the body, no legs:eek::eek:

Thanks to everybody else for your kind comments.

You will notice that I comment on backgrounds when they are really good, but like what Ken got here this is very suitable for the animal and locale so I don't ping anymore when BGs are less than perfect. Nature of the beast so to say.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks to all, I am very happy with this, it was far better than our Christmas dinner