A Sabi Sands Cat

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 26, 2014190 views12 comments

A beautiful female Leopard looking at those creatures pointing long things at her. This image was taken in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in Greater Kruger during the Big Cats tour in July earlier this year.

EOS 1Dx - EF200-400mm f4.0L IS USM - 300mm - 1/500 sec @ f4.0 - ISO 800

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on December 26, 2014 at 9:02 PM

The saturation on the leopard seems a bit strained against background of dried grass.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on December 27, 2014 at 1:19 AM

On my monitor, it looks just right.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 27, 2014 at 8:56 AM

Hello Mario

Yes, a beautiful specimen and clean with excellent detail. Beautiful light adds to the image.

Are these cats wild ? you are quite close to her here?

lookin good

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 27, 2014 at 6:12 PM

Beautiful light and a wonderfully detailed portrait. Love the eye contact!

Sweet One Mario!

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on December 27, 2014 at 6:54 PM

I think the techs are spot on, but I do think the crop, cutting off the leopard, is a bit distracting. However excellent capture. It must have been thrilling to be this close. Are the leopards in Sabi Sands acclimated to humans?

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on December 27, 2014 at 9:18 PM

I am fine with the comp.I like this close portrait....don't get to see many close images of this species. but also had the same question Max posted. I am not familiar with the game reserves....are the animals wild?

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

Comment posted by Carey Closs on December 28, 2014 at 1:42 AM

Did you say, "here kitty, kitty, kitty " Pretty intense stare. Nice capture Mario.

Registered on April 15, 2012, 107 Posts, 326 Comments

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on December 28, 2014 at 3:26 AM

Thanks to all for stopping buy and taking the time to comment. The leopard is as wild as it gets. The resident wildlife in Greater Kruger is very relaxed around human presence, specially these cats that are so shy in most places in Africa. This is why the private reserves on the western Kruger boundary are considered to be the best place to photograph these spotted cats in the wild. The reason for the tight composition is that the surrounding bush was not interesting at all for a wider shot.

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on December 28, 2014 at 8:28 AM

Hi Mario,

I like the crop just fine and the lighting on the cat looks almost studio-perfect. The eyes are compelling. My only small nit is the busy-ness of the grass behind and to the sides of the subject.

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on December 29, 2014 at 10:08 AM

Mario: very nice pose with the cat looking right at you. Really like the soft directional light. Richard

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

Comment posted by John Launstein on December 30, 2014 at 1:51 AM

Mario - a fine piece of work. Just a very pleasing image AS PRESENTED in my opinion. Beautiful.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 6, 2015 at 1:42 AM

Mario,
Very beautiful

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