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Thread: The "Night Stalker"

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default The "Night Stalker"

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    We came upon this fine male leopard whilst on a night drive one hot November evening in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park,
    he was teamed up with a female and they were on a mating mission.
    No harsh flash was used as I made use of the D700's fine high ISO abilities by reducing the exp comp down -2.7 @ ISO1600,
    giving me a suitable shutter speed of 1/100s @ f/2.8, the leopard was lit by a hand held spot light from our vehicle.
    I deliberately left room on the right for his virtual tail.
    Granting me this majestic night time pose.

    D700 70-200VRII 1/100s f/2.8 -2.7EV ISO1600@ 200mm. Almost F/F, Nsefu sector, Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia Nov 2011.

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 02-07-2012 at 04:56 AM.


  2. #2
    Ken Watkins
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    Marc,

    This indeed majestic, I find that a spotlight provides so much more interesting light than a flash (and much kinder to the animal). Difficult to get the exposure right though, great for hand-held at that speed

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    Excellent work Marc showing good control of technical details but remaining mindful of the aesthetics of the image. I like it very much.

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    I love this Marc, good lighting on the leopards head make all the difference TFS

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    Forum Participant BenBotha's Avatar
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    Magnificent animal, well captured. The spotlight gives a softer light than a flash.

    Ben

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Very well done, Marc. Majestic pose and animal. Thanks for explaining your lighting technique and exposure comp.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  7. #7
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    I like the contrast of light & dark with this one Marc and a very good call going for the spot instead of the flash. The light on the face in particular is rather exquisite.

    BTW What's around the base of the front paws?

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Nice.
    Vehicle hand spot light, how did you decide (in post processing) on this color balance we see here?
    Tom

  9. #9
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Appreciate the comments everyone, many thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Kaluski View Post

    BTW What's around the base of the front paws?

    TFS
    Steve
    Had to go back to the RAW file to check, it's just some twig shadows on the front paw.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Graham View Post
    Nice.
    Vehicle hand spot light, how did you decide (in post processing) on this color balance we see here?
    Tom
    Colour balance is as is straight out of RAW file plus a little saturation. It turned out to be fairly accurate, so no tweaking needed.


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    This is one lovely image Marc , well composed and executed , use of spot light is spot on and colors looks great on my monitor , top image
    TFS

    PS , If mine I may book ticket for him to London ;)

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    Hi Marc,
    I love this image of dark and light looks very dramatic.
    VPN

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    Excellent Compo...Marc

  13. #13
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Had to go back to the RAW file to check, it's just some twig shadows on the front paw.
    Thanks Marc.
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  14. #14
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Not much I can add here Marc. One of the best poses/exposures on a spot-lit leopard I've seen. Congrats!
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    I join the others in a real congrats on the concept and execution.
    Superb.
    Dan Kearl

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