The two of us spent 4 days with this mother and two, three month old cubs (plus some other animals) and this was taken in the latter part of the afternoon, around 4.45pm. She had just put the cubs into some deep thicket and was stalking an unsuspected Impala that had strayed into her neighbourhood.
Ideally a slightly lower POV would have been better, adding more below at the foot of the image, but for safety reasons I had to settle with this, as shooting under the vehicle was not an option, LOL.
FYI the reason for the hi ISO was that she had been in deep shade previous and I had no time to drop the ISO.
Thanks for the comments/feedback on the previous image.
Wonderful image Steve, although I think I agree with Nick about the tail
Oscar
Posted by David Sewell on March 27, 2012 at 6:05 PM
The tail tip does not worry me, it is after all part of the subject. I suppose I should object to those blades of grass in front of the face, but somehow they add to the picture for me.
Posted by Bob Johnson on March 29, 2012 at 3:07 AM
Super shot Steve it took me straight back to the Serengeti which I am missing already and its only been 10 days
Regarding the hi ISO. I mainly shoot manually in Africa and my default shutter speed is 1/4000 and I set the f low & ISO high enough to achieve this. This way I am prepared for fast action On my recent trip I shot a cheetah chase and kill at ISO 2000 on the 1DMK4, they are a little noisy but they are sharp. As she brought the kill back to her cubs I could have been tempted to drop the ISO for the head on 'kill carry' shot but this would have been a massive error as she suddenly dropped the kill and set off at speed for another young Tommy which she caught by the back wheel of my truck. I got three cracking frames that I would have missed had I dropped the ISO to 400
Bob
Posted by Andy Astbury on March 29, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Andy 800 is quite enough for me, although Finland in January did touch 1600. After 8 trips to Africa, 50% of which have been to Botswana this was the first time I need to go beyond 400. It's all about IQ Andy and you know that.
Posted by Rene de Heer on March 29, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Thanks folks, appreciate the feedback, good or bad.
Rene/Phil perhaps we could plan something, as I now have some superb contacts/guides out there and some very nice Avian locations. Name your shopping list
Posted by Phil Ellard on March 30, 2012 at 6:43 PM
wonderful shot, amazing experience to spend time with them
Discussion
13 repliesIdeally a slightly lower POV would have been better, adding more below at the foot of the image, but for safety reasons I had to settle with this, as shooting under the vehicle was not an option, LOL.
FYI the reason for the hi ISO was that she had been in deep shade previous and I had no time to drop the ISO.
Thanks for the comments/feedback on the previous image.
Steve
Subject: Leopard (F) stalking Impala, low level (Panthera pardus)
Location: Chiefs, Botswana
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 500f/4 - HH
Exposure: 1/4000s at f/5.6 ISO800 0 stop compensation
Crop: Slight crop (original capture horizontal)
Subject distance: 17.5m
Nick.
It is a marvellous shot, wish to death it were mine but is a tad tight.
Oscar
David
Regarding the hi ISO. I mainly shoot manually in Africa and my default shutter speed is 1/4000 and I set the f low & ISO high enough to achieve this. This way I am prepared for fast action
Bob
ISO 800 high???
Andy 800 is quite enough for me, although Finland in January did touch 1600. After 8 trips to Africa, 50% of which have been to Botswana this was the first time I need to go beyond 400. It's all about IQ Andy and you know that.
Rene de Heer
Phil.
Rene/Phil perhaps we could plan something, as I now have some superb contacts/guides out there and some very nice Avian locations. Name your shopping list