Sorry Brendon but this one doesn't work for me, the intruding branches are too dominant. While I understand that in nature, we can't always choose our setting, bg, etc, this would have probably been an instance where I just enjoyed the sighting. I do like the color of the sky though.
Gotta love that lazy pose and the tongue .
Love the BG here bud...the branches are not a biggy for me as you can see the face clearly and it's part of the story...
Nice work with the flash as main light and cool sky color. I feel the branches frame the face nicely. Looking at you pose would have been the next step to put this over the top.
Well, guess I'm the contrary one. The background bothers me because of its color. Because the subject is flashed, daylight color flash, the subject's color temperature is midday sunlight. But with a BG (sky?) that looks sunset. So both together do not add up for me. Not to mention the the branches that confuse me
Tom
Funny, Tom, weren't you the one that felt a previous sunset post was 'off-colour' and proceeded to brighten it to a more 'daylight' colour? (tongue firmly in cheek ! I know your last post there stated that you actually preferred the OP...)
True Morkel, I did brighten it -but- I did not change the color towards daylight !!! (And then later changed my mind).
And besides, that was a giraffe and this is a leopard - if you hadn't noticed
We're having too much fun today I think!!
Tom
It does have the look of being flashed (intentional I assume) but it also has real nice color, clarity, and detail in the leopard. I also like the color of the sky, feel it's a nice compliment to the leopard's color. The branches don't interfere with a view of the face but with the expression on the face and the arm being in the "V", it makes me think he/she is stuck.
That BG sky is very appealing Brendon, the branches are a little intrusive, but not always easy to navigate around.
Just wondered if you were using a BB with your flash?
TFS
Hi all thanks for your comments, seems to be quite a mixture of feelings here and thats great, its what makes photography so awesome, everyone sees something different. Personally i love this image, the bg colour is the last remaining bit of colour in the sky as the sun had already set, there was very little light to speek of on the actual leopard so had to fill in with flash, flash was set to -2 so as not to over flash or over expose. I was in 2 minds about the branches but decided they are all part of the story and dont distract from the face too much, i particularly like the few green leaves as they speak for that time of year when the marula trees start to get their leaves again. It would have been great if she had looked at me but i was lucky to have got this shot as it is the only one with her eyes open,the rest of the time she was asleep.
Brendon, never having had the opportunity to shoot or see a wild leopard, I will say, I like the BG. The branches are a bit of a distraction, but this image is so nice, I would love to say it was mine! Love the eyes of these guys. TFS
Like you I love the BG. And I like the way she is leaning between the two branches. I fell it adds. Great flash-work. Man these guys love the Marula's in the Lowveld (lying in them mean). Looks like she had a big meal, or is it just the way she is lying?