The Pounce (Final)

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 21, 2010479 views12 comments

Hi everyone, sorry for the repost, but I recently had to renew my account and I lost the majority of the images in my gallery in the process, and I reworked this image to add more contrast between the cat and the background. Before I send it off to Natures Best, I thought it would be appropriate to see if anyone has any last thoughts or suggestions on the image. To those who didn't see the original image, this is a wild bobcat cub photographed in Badlands National Park as it pounced on a field mouse. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Thanks. Joe

Nikon D90, 600mm F4, ISO200, F5.6, 1/500th taken from car window...

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 21, 2010 at 10:54 PM

Joe, I think this is well improved from the previous shot - congrats and I won't be surprised if this wins many competitions (especially in the youth category)

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 21, 2010 at 11:30 PM

Looks great to me, Joe - if you have a bit more room in front, though, it could be less centered..
Good luck with the competition!

sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on March 21, 2010 at 11:56 PM

Improved! Good luck with Nature's Best!

Registered on September 26, 2009, 131 Posts, 554 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 22, 2010 at 12:02 AM

This is most definitely an improvement Joe, your selective contrast enhancement makes the cat stand out from the BG much better. Great work and good luck with the competition!

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 22, 2010 at 1:08 AM

Fabulous hunt, Joe. By both of you!

Good luck with the Nature's Best submission– let us know how it goes.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 22, 2010 at 10:07 AM

Hey Joe,

Looking quite good. I haven't looked into the rules of this particular competition, but if it's within the rules you might want to experiment with a slight bump in warmth. If you're allowed to make selective adjustments, I'd limit that bump in warmth to the cat ONLY - to me it looks just a tad on the cool side.

Good luck with this Joe - let us know how it works out!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 22, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Good luck Joe! I am certain all the NPN fauna regulars are pulling for you!

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 22, 2010 at 4:31 PM

Great action, Joe. Nice job on the processing as well.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Brett Lewis on March 23, 2010 at 7:07 AM

Superb behaviour image.. Shame about the flat lighting but you have done very well considering the conditions and the speed at which these things happen. Is that a granuloma on its LH paw..? I do find that I am drawn a little to the dark 'buds' of the stems behind the cat but not much you can do about that in competition terms so it's perfectly acceptable, but otherwise I might remove those.

Good luck and kind regards,

Brett

Registered on May 17, 2008, 6 Posts, 16 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on March 23, 2010 at 1:42 PM

Nice repost, quite an improvement - I echo Brad's comment about warming it up a bit, but I think you've got a winner here!

Best of luck in the competition Joe!

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 23, 2010 at 4:27 PM

Looking Excellent Joe!!! I am sure you will do well with Natures Best.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Sulik on March 23, 2010 at 8:22 PM

Thanks everyone, I already have the slightly warmer image ready to go, and I'll submit this, along with about 10 other shots, this week. I've also submitted 10 photos into the Veolia Nature Photography contest, so hopefully I'll make it into one or the other (wouldn't it be great if I made it into both?

) Fingers crossed...

Registered on January 7, 2009, 51 Posts, 165 Comments