Posted by David Lloyd on November 30, 2009 at 4:41 PM
The weather defied it’s forecast and the rain stayed away, and at the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey we managed to catch some Scottish Wildcat poses.
The Scottish Wildcat is a truly wild cat, not to be petted despite appearances, and I would think would have your finger off quickly if you were to get anywhere near. They’ve never been tamed, and are indeed completely untamable even those reared in captivity. There are only about 400 left in the north of Scotland where they’re sometimes called the Tiger of the Highlands.
If you visited the BWC then you may know that on the photographic days, they'll let you inside the enclosures for a more intimate session wit the animals.
I wasn't too successful with the foxes, I don't think, but I've a few wildcat pictures I'm happy with.
I've a few more at my website.
Nikon D700 at 200mm (70-200 VR), f3.3 , 1/180s and ISO 200
Any comments most welcome.
Posted by David Sewell on December 1, 2009 at 1:14 AM
David, I am a little puzzled by the green under the chin. Has the cat been rubbing itself on something? I do like the stare, and think that possibly cropping something off the left would make it even stronger.
David
Posted by John Robinson on December 1, 2009 at 3:10 AM
Yes the green is puzzling, and the cropping doesn't seem to suit the shot somehow. Maybe tighter around the head?
Difficult one. Nice head detail though.
JohnR
Captures the character of the animal well David. I quite like the crop. I'd imagine the green is the reflection of the grass on the white fur. I have noticed the same when photographing squirrels.
Photographing a semi-wild wildcat in the highlands on several occasions, but always in pine woods, I got a distinct purple cast in the fur, apparently from the pine trunks - a colour I've seen in some of my pine woodland shots and which puzzled me. I suspect this reflective ability is a quality of wildcat fur - makes sense to be able to reflect your environment colour - but this is not anything I can say I've read about - any field biologists out there know anything about this phenomenon?
Nice portrait, but the green is a wee bit to overpowering for me. A more drab and sympathetic colour would suit it better. But the lower viewpoint works well with subjects like this.
Posted by Mark Sisson on December 1, 2009 at 12:29 PM
I like the stare but am not sure about the crop: needs more legs I think.
Agree with David and John re the crop. Also the green is rather distracting. Nice detailed face.
Posted by Andy Shepherd on December 1, 2009 at 8:38 PM
Thats a very nice capture David and I actually like the crop.
Andy...
Posted by Guy Rogers on December 2, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Hello David.
Nice capture and the stare is just right, the composition is ok for me and you could try and just reduce the colour of the green under the chin if you wanted.
Posted by Craig Jones on December 4, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Love the stare captured and the crop looks good to me,very nice image David
Discussion
11 repliesThe Scottish Wildcat is a truly wild cat, not to be petted despite appearances, and I would think would have your finger off quickly if you were to get anywhere near. They’ve never been tamed, and are indeed completely untamable even those reared in captivity. There are only about 400 left in the north of Scotland where they’re sometimes called the Tiger of the Highlands.
If you visited the BWC then you may know that on the photographic days, they'll let you inside the enclosures for a more intimate session wit the animals.
I wasn't too successful with the foxes, I don't think, but I've a few wildcat pictures I'm happy with.
I've a few more at my website.
Nikon D700 at 200mm (70-200 VR), f3.3 , 1/180s and ISO 200
Any comments most welcome.
David
Difficult one. Nice head detail though.
JohnR
Simon
Photographing a semi-wild wildcat in the highlands on several occasions, but always in pine woods, I got a distinct purple cast in the fur, apparently from the pine trunks - a colour I've seen in some of my pine woodland shots and which puzzled me. I suspect this reflective ability is a quality of wildcat fur - makes sense to be able to reflect your environment colour - but this is not anything I can say I've read about - any field biologists out there know anything about this phenomenon?
Nice portrait, but the green is a wee bit to overpowering for me. A more drab and sympathetic colour would suit it better. But the lower viewpoint works well with subjects like this.
Mark
Des
Fran
Thats a very nice capture David and I actually like the crop.
Andy...
Nice capture and the stare is just right, the composition is ok for me and you could try and just reduce the colour of the green under the chin if you wanted.