Jungle Cat

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 21, 2017346 views11 comments

This beautiful cat is the Margay.
On my last trip to Costa Rica myself as well as part of my group were very fortunate to get to spend some quality time with this graceful creature

Perfectly adapted for it's life in the trees... yes the trees, this mostly arboreal cat has the unique ability to rotate it's back feet 180 degrees! Enabling it to run straight down the trunk of a tree like a squirrel.

He was nice enough to come down out of the trees long enough to pose for us on this rock for a more formal portrait.

Nikon D4S, 200-400mm 1/60th @ f5.6, ISO 640

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 21, 2017 at 6:16 PM

Beautiful cat. I especially love the eyes and whiskers.
I do wish the tail were not cut off, though.
I'd personally get rid of the little bright stick om the rock, as it draws my eye.
Very cool image!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on January 21, 2017 at 6:48 PM

Steve: this is definitely a WOW photo. If you had planned it, I don't think you could have arranged a better pose and background. The techs are spot on. Maybe it could have been shot just a bit wider so as not to have cut off the tail, but excellent otherwise. Richard

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

Comment posted by John Robinson on January 21, 2017 at 7:51 PM

Crits been adressed, but still a great wildlife shot by anyones standards.
Cheers
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on January 22, 2017 at 4:50 AM

Steve, was this shot with flash, as the light seems to covey this?

Agree with Sandy about the tail, zooming out would have easily addressed this as the cat looked very relaxed and inquisitive. Personally I do feel 1/60th is very slow unless you had a tripod or mono support and as this was taken with the D4s, increasing the ISO for better techs would have created a better image from an IQ POV. Love the jaunty head angle and the 'dinner plate' eyes. A sliver off the top I feel would not hurt the image.

TFS
Steve

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

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on January 22, 2017 at 2:22 PM

Hi Steve,

I like this image a lot. Although the tail is clipped, the comp is strong enough that it really does not need it. Higher ISO could have produced more details and better IQ. Overall a fine image...................Jim

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on January 22, 2017 at 6:58 PM

I really like this image. However, for me, there is something a bit unnatural about it. Was a flash used? The Margay is exceptionally bright, especially around the eyes.

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 23, 2017 at 7:54 AM

Excellent image. For me its perfect in every way. Just wish it were mine.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 23, 2017 at 9:24 AM

Great specimen n wonderful pose !
The strong flash is doing more harm than good here. It is quite different from the Jungle Cat we have in India.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 23, 2017 at 10:52 AM

The pose is as perfect as one could want, with the slight tension in the lean, head angle and tail draping nicely over the rock. If this is not full frame, having the full tail would be highly desirable. I agree with Jagdeep that the flash feels over strong and I would hope you had opportunity for additional frames in this encounter to try other settings using natural light or a more subdued fill flash.