Candle Light Dinner

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 9, 2013632 views9 comments

Leopard in a tree with impala prey. Lit by torch light from two directions; main light from the side, second, less powerful one from front to 'fill' shadows.

Female Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Khwai, Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS 1D X
Shutter Speed 1/80 Sec.
Aperture Value f/2.8
ISO Speed 3200
Lens EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM @ 200mm
Full frame height, cropped from sides to 4:3 ratio

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on November 9, 2013 at 6:08 AM

Interesting shot Vincent. The torchlight has created a nice atmospheric shot.
One small niggle is that the tree seems to be a bit sharper than the leopard. Where was the focus point?

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 9, 2013 at 6:21 AM

Martin, I do not see what you see, but focus is spot-on, else I would have binned it

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

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on November 9, 2013 at 8:26 AM

Maybe it is new monitor time for me Vincent

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Nuno Eira on November 9, 2013 at 10:20 AM

Looks like a scene from studio ... Brutal atmosphere created

Registered on October 8, 2012, 37 Posts, 99 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 10, 2013 at 12:20 AM

Vincent,
Using spotlights is a great method (far better than flash), but I am not sure they were powerful in this case,

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on November 10, 2013 at 8:26 AM

Not sure if I like this or not. I am a bit bothered by the contrast of the bright light area on the leopards chest, but at the same time thing the strong light on the cat is what makes this image. Thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on November 10, 2013 at 5:43 PM

This is a beauty Vincent. Love the way you illuminated the scene, it appears what might have occurred with a full harvest moon reflecting on the Leopard. The background sky coloration and patterning from the branches is wonderful. Impressive image quality for 3200 iso.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 12, 2013 at 8:38 AM

Hey Vincent,

I like this ones as posted, tho' I think it might be even more enchanting with a slight reduction in exposure on the cat itself.

In terms of the technique - I definitely prefer the selective nature of the lighting here (as opposed to using a flash). Did the torches bother the cat at all, especially when you first shone the lights on it? Have to say it certainly looks relaxed here...but I'm always hesitant to use artificial light on predators for fear of disturbing them.

Interesting philosophical issue raised by this shot (one I don't have an opinion on - surprise, surprise): By using the torches you have created a scene here that didn't actually exist in nature (independently of your actions) - you're no longer recording a natural event, you're "staging" it via a strong manipulation of lighting. Funny how manipulation of a scene pre-exposure (or in-camera via use of things like long exposures) is acceptable, but the minute it is done in post-processing it's deemed "manipulation" and the image is considered "photo art" (and not a photograph). Kind of a double standard, eh? Not a criticism of you or the image AT ALL - simply food for thought!

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Matthew Studebaker on February 10, 2014 at 9:55 PM

nicely lit!!!

Registered on December 21, 2013, 11 Posts, 82 Comments