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Thread: Protective leopard mum charges our vehicle.

  1. #1
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Default Protective leopard mum charges our vehicle.

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    Things appear a little slow of late in wildlife, so I though I'd get things rolling again.

    This young, skittish and very protective mum was none too pleased that we had discovered her den site with two, 4 week old cubs.
    With her tailing flicking nervously back and forth I had an uneasy feeling and sure enough she started snarling viscously and promptly charged our vehicle,
    stopping fortuitously at the fallen log!
    Brian's (my guide) girlfriend, leapt from the front of the (no door) vehicle into the back, thinking she wasn't going to stop.
    I lay behind the protection of my viewfinder and still kept my finger on the shutter firing away, I wasn't going to miss this (possible) once in a lifetime opportunity!

    After collecting our senses and started to breath again...............we got the message and promptly left.

    May I also add that I'm not in the habit of scaring flighty leopard mums with cubs from the possibility of abandoning their den sites.
    This incident happened so quickly and after we left I had terrible guilt pains.
    Much to my relief, I had heard from my guide a week later that they were observed from a much greater distance and found all were still at the den site!

    This image is probably my favourite and most satisfying & memorable image of a leopard I've taken to date, plus the excitement level was pretty high also.
    Would have loved a tad more lower room, but when people are screaming and jumping around it wasn't an easy situation, I was rapped when I saw this on my screen.

    D3s 500VR 1/400s f/5.6 ISO800. Almost F/F. Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia. Nov 2011

    C & C most welcome

    Cheers
    Marc
    Last edited by Marc Mol; 03-24-2012 at 08:51 AM.


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    Wow, an awesome image & an awesome story. I really appreciate your story & the image. I think both are wonderful. I really like the direct look from the leopard & the open mouth that shows her tongue & teeth. With the partially laid back ears, it is obvious that the leopard is threatening something. TFS
    Andrew

  3. #3
    Ken Watkins
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    Marc,

    You already know my opinion of this one, it is a truly amazing capture of a moment in time. The expression on the Leopards face is perfect in every way.

    What a week we have had for Leopards, truly inspiring

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    BPN Viewer Tom Graham's Avatar
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    Love it, not another animal portrait. You know she means YOU, yes YOU!!!
    Tom
    ps - think you were bit lucky that only 1/400s froze it this sharp.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Fabulous expression and great sighting from your account of it...

    Despite the busy surroundings I like how her face is in the clear. I don't know if it's my tired eyes but could her face use a tad less sharpening as it looks to be just on the edge of "crispy"?
    Morkel Erasmus

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  6. #6
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    Thanks Ken, Andrew, Tom & Morkel.

    Quote Originally Posted by Morkel Erasmus View Post
    I don't know if it's my tired eyes but could her face use a tad less sharpening as it looks to be just on the edge of "crispy"?
    I'm hoping it's tired eyes Morkel, for me it's tack sharp and haven't had any other comment in this regard on the various other forums where it's been shown.


    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Graham View Post
    ps - think you were bit lucky that only 1/400s froze it this sharp.
    No luck about it Tom, as long as I had a good long lens technique & stable platform ie. my Kinesis bean bag, with the aid of VR, 1/400s is ample.
    Have had tack sharp images with my 500 down to 1/50s
    I'm sure Morkel would concur with this.


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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Marc - great expression and great techs. Doesn't look too crispy to me. Congrats on getting the shot in the fray.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    You made me laugh until I cried with "I lay behind the protection of my viewfinder" you are a true wildlife photographer. This is a wonderful photo and I appreciate the story.

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    Hi Marc,
    A wonderful image that I would like in my collection. Ditto all of the above.
    Best wishes, Mark.

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    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
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    Nice head on view of this snarling cat. Wish the sapling wasn't there (being real picky) but I really like the weathered look of the fallen logs, how they frame her, and the golden color of the BG.

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    Very nice!!!

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    This is awesome image Marc, love the snarl , wood framing and least bothered about little space in bottom , terrific work
    TFS

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