High Key Leopard

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 5, 2014189 views13 comments

We came across a Leopard after sunset on our recent Botswana tour. At first I was disappointed with the lack of light and gray sky background but then I figured out it would make a nice high key image. I cloned out an oof tree branch which was in front and obscures part of the tree, not sure what I would do with that part of the tree to improve the image, if you have any ideas let me know. This one is best viewed large as the background sets it off.

Canon 5D3 500F4 1.4x 1/80 F7.1, iso 1600, Av mode, +2.3 evaluative metering, lens supported on bean bag from safari vehicle, about 75% of the original frame.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on October 5, 2014 at 3:25 PM

Hi Nate,

I like this image. I like the branches as is. This will make an interesting print........................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 5, 2014 at 3:30 PM

This really works for me as it's presented here, Nate. A good idea on the end processing, should make a very nice print.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 5, 2014 at 6:47 PM

Great idea to process this into a high key, very good impact & not your usual fare.
Nicely done Nate

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 5, 2014 at 8:27 PM

Nate: I really like the unusual treatment you've given this photo. My only suggestion would be to clone some of the very small branches that exit the frame. It's a wall hanger either way. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 5, 2014 at 8:41 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone, by the way this is fairly close to how it came out of the camera. I blew out part of the sky in the original on purpose to get this effect, the biggest change in post processing besides the bit of cloning was bumping the contrast a fair bit.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 6, 2014 at 11:22 AM

Nate,
I really like what you have done here and agree this would be an excellent wall-hanger indeed. The high key or lack of BG really emphasizes that great perch and the lazy mood of the subject. If it were mine I would clone out the two small branches in the lower left corner and the center right side under your signature, they both seem somehow out of place. I would also install a 1 or 2 pixel darker color border to define the perimeter of the image against a white page. Those are my ideas to improve this very nice image.

Man !

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 6, 2014 at 5:31 PM

Nicely handled, Nate. Larger version definitely worth a view.

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 7, 2014 at 9:39 PM

I am really loving the HK road you took on this shot Nate. LOVE it and only have one tiny little nit...I might crop off the very right side to get rid of the branch pointing upwards on the top right. Extremely nit picky I know...but I think it might be an improvement.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 7, 2014 at 10:36 PM

I like the ethereal effect of this high key treatment. Cool.

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 8, 2014 at 2:22 AM

Your very unusual treatment really elevates this from being just another 'leopard resting on a tree' image.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 8, 2014 at 6:49 PM

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. Kurt, I will crop a sliver off the right to remove that branch thanks. I don't think I will clone the other small branches out because some of them run through the frame and wouldn't look very natural removing them.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on October 10, 2014 at 8:02 AM

This is super sweet Nate

A beautiful leopard on an awesome perch. An excellent composition. Nice work with the high key processing.

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

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on October 11, 2014 at 3:28 AM

This screams " I want to be hung " Nice work with processing Nate. I wonder how this would look on monochrome with maybe a subtle tint ?

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments