Still keeping the 'African' theme with a hint of aah. Taken early in the morning, about 7.00am if memory serves me right on a very chilly morning in Kwetsani (Botswana delta). I know Dave when you saw it you commented that the ear had been 'cropped off', however I'm not sure if that really matters, or does it?
Generally the clipped ear would bother me, but it this case it strangely doesn't My eye is drawn straight to the eye which is a credit to your choice of composition as it could have probably not done if you'd composed it differently, so, cool image Steve! Also the white patch in the top RH corner could be toned down perhaps, but seeing as this is a wild leopard, it's cool with me!
Having lived in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia actually) for 10 years and having a good few visits to places like Hwange, Kruger and Etosha and NEVER seeing a Leopard, I can only admire this and be extremely jealous
Great shot
Posted by Malcolm Muir on July 26, 2007 at 3:27 PM
Excellent portrait Steve. Lovely light and loads of detail.
Graeme thank you for the input, however I am surprised you have not seen a Leopard. Would you like to see another, mum? Well worth getting up a 5.00am Malcom, I still smile when I see this shot. Glad you like it.
A nice shot Steve. I would have prefered to see this as a portrait rather than landscape shot. A square crop to just behind the ear might also work well.
Steve I know lots of people, who live there and frequent game reserves that haven't seen Leopards. Those tourists that see them on a once in a lifetime dream safari don't know how lucky they are. And the film crews/photographers that get leopard shots are often treated by Ranger tracking and current location knowledge.... are you one of them Steve? I have mised them by seconds, but that's all it takes sometimes...and yes, mum would be good to view
Very cute-nothing like a big cat in the wild-glad to be a tourist as i have fortune enough to have seen loads of leopards in both Africa and India
Posted by Andy Astbury on July 27, 2007 at 4:30 AM
Simply a stunner of an image Steve
Am very jealous I can you - I'd love to have the opportunity to photograph big cats - you never know, one day when the time and money constraints have dissappeared I might just treat myself
Clipped ear seems okay too
Posted by Paula Graham on July 28, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Wonderful portrait of this magnificent animal. I think I would like to see a different crop as the composition does not seem quite right to me but a super shot nevertheless.
Discussion
8 repliesSteve
1Dmk II 500mm AV 1/60 f5 ISO 400
Having lived in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia actually) for 10 years and having a good few visits to places like Hwange, Kruger and Etosha and NEVER seeing a Leopard, I can only admire this and be extremely jealous
Great shot
Malcolm
Steve
Am very jealous I can you - I'd love to have the opportunity to photograph big cats - you never know, one day when the time and money constraints have dissappeared I might just treat myself
Clipped ear seems okay too