Tiger in the grass

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 12, 2012601 views7 comments

This young tigress was out hunting chital (spotted deer), which were about 100 metres away. This was too far away for the tigress to hunt successfully, and she was slinking along in the tall grass, trying to conceal herself as best as she could. But, she was on a small hillock while the chital were in a slight depression, and she was soon spotted. A hysterical chorus of alarm calls rang out, and the deer ran in all directions. The hunt was over even before it had started. The tigress sat up bolt upright and looked at me, almost sheepishly, embarrassed by the fact that I had seen her make a hash of it. In fact, it is estimated that only 1 in 20 tiger hunts is successful!
Species: Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Location: Ranthambhore NP, Rajasthan, India
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 100-400 at 400
Specs: ISO 400, f8, 1/1000s, beanbag on vehicle

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques.
This image is available as a large print, but will have to be ordered by writing to my email address, as I don't have the URL details.

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on December 12, 2012 at 7:19 AM

Amazing shot. I love the look on her face. It says it all. Beautiful, beautiful animal and capture.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on December 12, 2012 at 1:07 PM

I like a lot about this image Ajit; the subject, the habitat, the DOF, the colors. The only thing I find a pity is that the fork of the tree is right behind the tiger's head.

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

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on December 12, 2012 at 1:10 PM

A beautiful animal, beautifully captured. It's interesting how the tree trunks behind the tiger parallel the tiger's jaw lines-nice symmetry. The tiger does have a baleful look about her.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 12, 2012 at 2:11 PM

Love the light and crisp capture. I, too, was thinking it is too bad the tree is positioned to seem to grow out of her head. Still, a fine capture.

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

Comment posted by John Clulow on December 12, 2012 at 6:53 PM

First tiger I have seen with antlers. All the more special that it's a tigress!

Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 12, 2012 at 11:51 PM

I agree that it is unfortunate that she decided to stop at exactly that spot, with the tree just behind her head. We had been following her for some distance, and inched along with her as she made her way towards the chital, but when she was spotted by the deer, she stopped and sat up with the tree 'growing' out of her head. As I mentioned in my post, she was on a slight hillock, and if we had moved forward, we would have had to descend and this would have meant losing her in the tall grass. In wildlife, you take what you get!

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

Comment posted by John Tobias on December 13, 2012 at 12:41 PM

IMHO the sharpness of the tigers face is outstanding. I know a basic rule is to not have something in the BG that appears to be coming out of the subjects head. But, for me in this case I like it! thanks for sharing.

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