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Thread: Spot lit Leopard on baby Impala

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Spot lit Leopard on baby Impala

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    Whilst in Sth Luangwa I had a lot of fun with vehicle spot lit and -EV/high ISO combined images on night time predators, in trips past I used to use my flash, high bracket mount, remote cord and better beamer
    which was a lot to balance and results were very much hit and miss, dependent on getting that BB lined up just right.
    With the D3s, that all changed and decided to try the spot lit method exclusively whilst on Sth Luangwa's night drives, I won't be going back to the BB method at least for night drives that's for sure.
    I had Patrick Bentley (ex Lion Camp guide and a fine photographer) along with me for the week whilst @ Tafika camp and we had a ball practising this method.
    One night on such a drive we heard a bleating and scuffle, upon investigating and after negotiating the heavy undergrowth, we came upon this female Leopard on a newborn Impala, giving me a great down the lens stare.
    We spent over an hour observing this very relaxed girl.
    I opened up the exp 1/2 stop on the Impala's head to extract a little extra detail, whilst trying to eliminate any undue noise.

    D3s 500VR 1/250s f/4 ISO1600 -2EV. F/F Nsefu sector, Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia Nov 2011.

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc


  2. #2
    Ken Watkins
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    Marc,

    Perhaps saying this is a joy would be wrong, but I like this a lot.

    I tried out a few spot lit Leopards but no such dramatic circumstances, or results

  3. #3
    Ken Watkins
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    Tom,

    I wonder if you could explain for me and perhaps others what the purpose of your post is. Everything after the first sentence is irrelevant to Marc's OP!

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    Hi Marc,
    I like your image. Magic opportunity with subtle use of the spot light. I like the composition as is and would do no further changes, a beautiful image. The look and the low POV and the catch lights in the eye all add.
    Thanks for sharing and best wishes,
    Mark.
    PS: Does Australia now have a South African coach helping them with their cricket??????

  5. #5
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Ken & Mark.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Wiseman View Post
    Hi Marc,
    PS: Does Australia now have a South African coach helping them with their cricket??????
    Yes..............how times have changed.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watkins View Post
    Tom,

    I wonder if you could explain for me and perhaps others what the purpose of your post is. Everything after the first sentence is irrelevant to Marc's OP!
    Agree Ken.
    Tom.....PM sent.


  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Marc - I agree, it's a great down the lens stare. Comp works for me too with the impala head trailing off into the darkness. I like the alertness of the leopard with the ears going in different directions too.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Hi Marc,
    Superb image brilliant use of spot light. looking into the lens while clamping down on its prey.
    VPN

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    I apologize Marc, and to all others, for my image, it was irrelevant to your posting. I'm glad it has been taken down and I was going to request such had it not already been done.
    Tom

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    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    A great image Marc, dramatic with great detail and IQ. Well conceived and executed. So nice to capture the scene in the Leopard's night environment.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    The eye contact, dramatic lighting and light falloff around the subject all make up for a compelling image, Marc!
    I do find the overall colour balance a tad on the green side (this time viewing on my recently calibrated desktop screen ). Perhaps a slight tweak in yellows or reds is all that's needed?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Lovely image and sighting, comp works well, lighting well handled with good exposure, i agree with Morkel on a slight green tinge and maybe a tad oversharpened.

  12. #12
    Ofer Levy
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    I love this! So much drama and beautiful light!

  13. Thanks Marc Mol thanked for this post
  14. #13
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    You gotta to love this , how I wish this was in my files

    TFS

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