Afternoon stroll + RP

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 13, 2015183 views12 comments

This is Vomba (the young male leopard I posted in the 'Walkabout' thread), a full grown male Leopard in his prime.

Some people have hang ups about roads, and yes, in an ideal world it's better shot in a lovely green stretch, but given the choice of photographing a Leopard or not, to have some nice soft sand to walk on (like us on a beach) and where your presence can be masked/silent, well I too would choose the road. In full prime this Leopard was awesome and just out for his afternoon patrol.

Thanks for either viewing or commenting on the previous image.

Steve

Subject: Male Leopard (Panthera pardus) on patrol, sandy track, mid afternoon
Location: SA
Camera: Canon 1DX
Lens: 200-400f/4 with ext, 560mm
Exposure: 1/1250s at f/5.6 ISO800
Original format: Portrait, crop from the top
Subject distance: 21m

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 13, 2015 at 8:36 PM

Tight. Put some of the top back and a little more on the left.

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

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on February 14, 2015 at 1:50 AM

Road? What road? What a handsome guy. I like everything about it, even the tight crop.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on February 14, 2015 at 7:48 AM

Who could resist this kind of subject, I too would not mind the road. Love the body language of leopard and flow of road diagonally.
But I must admit those tyre marks are kind of eye sore.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 14, 2015 at 12:45 PM

The leopard is beautiful. I'm okay with the crop. You could clone out the tire tracks if you wanted, but they too are okay with me.

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 14, 2015 at 4:30 PM

Strutting like he owns the place...and who would argue the point? Did I say I love the pose? Excellent Steve.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 14, 2015 at 8:21 PM

I enjoy his vivid detailing. If you have space, I would agree with adding a little on the side of his gaze.

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 15, 2015 at 6:43 AM

Ok, here is more to the left, actually all, plus I have gone for a more boxier format 10x8 to also reduce space above and emphasise more the look to left IMHO. With hindsight, if I had realised he was going to stop then I may have changed the framing as it was all set just to track him heading towards me.

I'm not that concerned about the tyre tread, but I can easily blend that back, but it is an inherent problem in conditions like this and in other locations like India too.

Cheers Chuck, not sure what your equivalent would be in Vermont?

Thanks Lon, hope this RP addresses the points raised?

Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 15, 2015 at 11:49 AM

Stephen, of course you know that many of these suggested tweaks are totally subjective and there is not any one "correct" way to interpret a capture. That said, I think the repost is a little stronger. Do you agree?

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on February 15, 2015 at 11:53 AM

You just need to distill from the comments received, then try it and see.

Thanks.

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on February 15, 2015 at 10:53 PM

Not sure which I prefer, Steve, but it's a wonderful image either way. Tire tracks or not, you got a wonderful, clear view of a beautiful leopard with a great look/expression and added bonus of the uplifted paw. Really nice frame.

OK, I THINK I prefer the original, as you say, cropping (comp) is immensely subjective!

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on February 16, 2015 at 6:34 AM

My vote goes to the original post.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on February 16, 2015 at 8:55 AM

Hello Steve

Great to witness and even better to capture this image. Like the positioning of raised paw, and the look into the distance.

Advantages of clean ground is Full paws and legs are visible ,

PS... prefer the repost crop.

Bill

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