We are just back from a great break to the Sabi Sands in South Africa. I have only really imported all my photos and haven't even had a chance to go through them and filter out the better ones, but just had to share one. This is the Dayone male leopard on patrol, we spent nearly 2 hours with him on our own after all the other guests had "ticked" him off their lists. I can't fathom why people would visit the bush and rush from one sighting to the next - but anyway, we photographers are a different breed eh?
PS: I know it's a tad tight at the bottom, was forced to rotate to level the photo and lost some space below, we all make these mistakes haha
Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f6.3 | 1/1250 SS | ISO-320
Nearly full frame
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Comments
11 commentsMorkel.
Fine looking Leopard I presume he is on a ridge above you?
You know my views on Sabi Sands I will not repeat them as I do not wish to be "ticked off" again.
As for a tick list, this is what the majority of tourists want to see, if I had $10 for every time I was asked have you seen any Lions then I would be a millionaire
Sabi Sands is rightly famed for Leopard sightings this probably down to the lodges having "guides" out following all the time and staying with them overnight, other more dubious practices are said to occur in certain areas
I like the prowling pose, and I'm glad you seemed to have been off the menu. Excellent techs.
Thanks guys.
Ken, the Sands gets a lot of flak but all the reserves I've visited in the conglomerate have never had guides out beyond 10pm and no guides sleep out in the bush to "stay with leopards". Yes there are often a number of vehicles out and sightings are often easy to come by, that being said on 2 of our drives it was really quiet and we just enjoyed the sights and sounds of being in the bush. Let's end the discussion on pros and cons of this place here :)
Morkel,
Thank you for your viewpoint, at least there are no air conditioned hides there
Hi Morkel (and Ken),
OK - now let's get back to the photo (please)...
Very nicely done Morkel. I know you're a big 'scapes fan, but there are times when a tightly-frame shot works really well and just can't be resisted! I like this one alot, and I think that slightly raised front paw is absolutely critical to making this one special (funny how such a little thing can make such a profound difference to a shot).
My only very minor nit regards something you mentioned - how tight it is on the bottom. On that note - in most cases (up to about a 4˚ tilt) you can recover space lost in an image rotation by using a Content Aware Fill in Photoshop. Easiest way is to make sure you end up with a starkly contrasting colour in the background when you rotate the image (usually pure white or pure black works), level the image through rotation, select that "new" black or white space with the magic wand tool, expand selection by about 4 pixels, and then fill with Content Aware Fill. Almost always works first time - both on in-focus and out-of-focus areas. Occasionally you may have to slightly touch up the filled area, but not too often. In this case you could have likely returned the lost "real estate" at the bottom of the image just fine...
Cheers...
Brad
Great one Morkel. The open jaw and nonchalante gaze away from the viewer project a "I don't give a damn" attitude. The low POV and high position of the leopard accentuate the leopard's power over the viewer. I also like that the road behind him in OOF maximizing the wild feel of the image.
Cheers,
Hisham.
Cheers Brad - know about "content aware" but in general I try to do everything I can to not add canvas and clone stuff out, just my own ethic. In this case I "live with" the tight bottom haha.
Ken - if I had to choose between a sweaty, humid primitive hide like the one I sat in for hours in Etosha, and an air-conditioned one with a comfy chair, I'd choose the latter. Let's leave it now LOL
Having just returned to NPN, I'm oblivious to the issues going on here, Morkel and Ken (inquiring minds don't really care). When in Rome, genuflect. I've seen some stuff on photographic safari that I wouldn't partake in, but it all beats the city. I got over it and so should you. We are all united in the promotion of wildlife and wild things. Can I get an Amen?
The real estate you gave up dosn't bother me at all, Morkel. Any fixation on the bottom of the image would completely miss the dynamics of the Leopards eyes in this image. Any looser and the eyes of this guy are diminished and IMOH that would be wrong. Anyone who has gazed into the eyes of a leopard and not been a changed human is, well, let's just say, different. I like this alot.
As for the three minute tourist checking off another species, I won't judge. Not my cup of tea, however.
I've enjoyed your work in my active absense, Keep it up. Same goes for you Ken.
A fan.
Lovely leopard photo Morkel. I'm with Simon and really like the "on patrol" look about him. He appears to be moving with a definite purpose and won't let anything get in his way. I like your head-on comp, nicely done.
Great image Morkel ! Great low angle makes it for me
<div id="myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>Very dramatic perspective,Morkel. No nits...but would want to have room for framing. Wall worthy!