Surveying The Terrain

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 31, 2010843 views24 comments

While searching for pythons, klipspringers and hyrax among rocky outcroppings (called kopjes), our guide spotted this caracal. He was saving his energy during the heat of the day, usually leaving secluded areas at night to hunt. This small felid is an active predator of small mammals and birds and has the ability to easily leap over ten feet high to catch escaping birds!

Photographed in Serengeti NP, Tanzania.
Thanks for viewing and any comments.

ISO 400 ss 1/320, f/5.6 @400mm, slight crop

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on March 31, 2010 at 12:13 PM

Excellent shot of this rare feline Darren - color, comp and dof are all spot on, great job!

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 31, 2010 at 2:14 PM

Wow, these are so rare to see in the wild Darren, I envy you lot as I only saw one once and never managed to get a good shot! You did very well here, great detail, good light and a dark BG that sets off the subject well. The branches(?) in the BG are somewhat distracting though. Also a slight headturn towards the viewer would have been nice to get a glimpse of the eyes.

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

Comment posted by Dean DuBois on March 31, 2010 at 3:00 PM

Beautiful...I love the well-defined ears, nice sharpness and nicely OOF background...Well done!

Registered on March 31, 2010, 0 Posts, 1 Comments

Comment posted by Billy Fairburn on March 31, 2010 at 3:04 PM

Stunning shot, I've always wanted to see one of these. I love how the reds pop from the dark background, and the detail in the face is amazing! No nits from me

Registered on March 3, 2007, 123 Posts, 717 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 31, 2010 at 5:03 PM

Very pleasing photograph. I really like these cats. IMHO it would have been better if the ear tufts were not blending in to the rock as much as they do, Thanks very much for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on March 31, 2010 at 6:15 PM

Great shot!

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

Comment posted by Bruce Palla on March 31, 2010 at 7:32 PM

Very dramatic lighting and a great capture.

Registered on December 19, 2007, 25 Posts, 328 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cordes on March 31, 2010 at 8:51 PM

Extremely rare animal to see. The light not only sets the hunting mood it tells the story of the cat's elusiveness. Just outstanding!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 31, 2010 at 9:04 PM

HI Darren,

I think this is great. Beautiful light, detail, and (to me) a pretty much optimal background PLUS with an awesome subject. I love the light along he edge of the ears! In this one I'm glad the cat is NOT looking at you - I like how it's not interacting with you and how it's just gazing away from you.

Very well done all round...congrats on this one!

Brad

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

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 31, 2010 at 10:03 PM

Really nice Darren, great razor sharp detail.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 31, 2010 at 10:05 PM

Cool portrait, even more so now that I understand how rare this encounter must be. Good job with the techs!

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on April 1, 2010 at 1:58 AM

Wow! Consider yourself extremely lucky to even spot a caracal in the wild, let alone photographing one! Maybe, you could consider darkening the bg altogether, so as to lessen the impact of the oof tree and the ?greenish rock above the caracal.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on April 2, 2010 at 1:24 AM

I love it. I think you have captured some of the beauty and mystery of the animal. Love the play of light, good light on the face and chest, and just catching the rim and guard hairs on the ears.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Johnson on April 3, 2010 at 6:41 PM

Love this image Darren, the detail & colors are great!

Registered on March 7, 2010, 71 Posts, 272 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on April 6, 2010 at 11:08 AM

I don't get to comment too often by fauna images, but I am compelled by this stunning portrait.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Maile on April 6, 2010 at 12:22 PM

Wow, very glad I looked at the Weekly Picks. Well deserved, great spot and shot!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 6, 2010 at 12:27 PM

super shot of an awesome cat Darren. Very well done! Congrats on the WP.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 6, 2010 at 10:53 PM

Incredible catch!
congrats on a very well-deserved EP!

Sandy r

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

Comment posted by Darren Colello on April 7, 2010 at 2:34 PM

Thank you very much to all for your kind and insightful comments.

Cheers

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on April 8, 2010 at 11:46 AM

Darren: I'm not a fauna shooter but this is just wonderful. Superb lighting and details. Most excellent.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on April 10, 2010 at 1:44 PM

Wow, a Caracal !!! Amazing sighting, Darren. Congrats on the EP.

Registered on February 21, 2009, 83 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 17, 2010 at 2:09 PM

Wow, aren't they beautiful? You're lucky to get so close to this one and well done to capture it so nicely.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Levin on February 8, 2011 at 9:01 PM

Hi Darren. Beautiful tack-sharp image, superb composition and lighting, and a terrific out of focus background. Wonderful portrait of a beautiful cat. Great to see one in the wild like this.

Registered on April 24, 2009, 21 Posts, 184 Comments

Comment posted by Andre Joanisse on February 11, 2011 at 7:37 PM

A beautiful portrait of a very difficult cat to photograph. I have only seen one once for a very brief moment as it retreated in tall grass. A gorgeous shot.
thanks for sharing.

André

Registered on October 15, 2006, 4 Posts, 81 Comments