Play Fighting

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 27, 2010287 views9 comments

We watched as a tigress and her three cubs walked through a wooded area; she was leading them to a kill she'd made earlier. The small female cub had a different idea. She wouldn't keep up, and as she cautiously walked to the right of our jeep, it became clear that she was headed to a nearby water hole whether her mom and litter mates followed or not. The tigress had no choice but to follow, so she and the two male cubs changed direction and headed to the same water hole.

As soon as the male cubs reached the water, they immediately started to play fight, while the instigator looked on. It looked to me that she wanted to join the action. The tigress waited patiently at the edge of the pool for the playing to subside.

In my 20+ years working as a naturalist in Bandhavgarh National Park, sightings such as this are as rare as they are spectacular. It is easy to lose track of time. In this case, meta data tells me the cubs played in the water for no more than three minutes, during which time, I had to reposition the vehicle a few times to get the shots. I had guests with me at the time, so not only was I driving, as I always do, I was managing the sighting for their benefit, while getting off as many photos as I could using my D300, 200-400VR, hand held (ISO 400 f5.6, 1/750).

Thank you for viewing. Your comments are welcome. Constructive evaluation will be greatly appreciated.

Butch

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on July 27, 2010 at 1:00 PM

The upper one really has its claws out. Wow! Its too bad the tigers and water don't separate from the BG more. Nothing you could do about that though. Great shot.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on July 27, 2010 at 2:16 PM

Very impressive action shot Butch! Thanks for including a larger version to appreciate the detail (especially on that claw!!!) The processing looks good and I do not mind the BG too much, there may not be BG separation, but the BG is even enough in color and texture to act as a good backdrop (much better than bush at that distance from the subject). Thanks for sharing this cool shot.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on July 28, 2010 at 7:47 AM

Terrific action and the paw really adds punch to this image! You have been able to capture this very well but I wish you had better POV. I believe this is shot from riding elephant. You may crop off some part from the right side, the composition will be squarish but will work better IMHO.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 28, 2010 at 11:26 AM

Butch, this is a very cool action shot! I also wish there was more separation from the BG and a better POV, but not much you can do abbout those conditions. I do think this needs a CCW rotation though. Seems to me leaning a little to the right.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on July 28, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Thank you all for viewing & comments.I'm sure I'll improve more & more being in this forum.

Jagdeep, as I mention in my description of the image,it was not shot from elephant but from jeep.I initially thought about cropping more of the right side but didn't do much for me the squarish frame.

Kurt, thanks for your suggestion of CCW,would have been better crop as you suggested.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on July 28, 2010 at 1:54 PM

Cool action shot! Like the others, I love the extended paw. The only thing I would wish for would be a slightly different placement in the frame, and I realize in an action setting that is often asking too much. In a perfect world it would have been neat to see the extended paw aiming at the upper right corner and the tail in the water anchoring the lower right corner. Thanks for sharing this wonderful capture. We look forward to your NPN participating with more postings, and especially in hearing your comments on the work of others. (It is what makes this such a great forum!)

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on July 30, 2010 at 5:56 AM

Awesome behavior and great action Butch

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Anderson on August 1, 2010 at 12:28 PM

Those claws are impressive. Great action shot.

Registered on July 1, 2009, 30 Posts, 181 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 3, 2010 at 3:43 PM

Excellent shot and story. I like the stop action of the water, the big claw and the look from the cub. You get the shot while you can, like you said you never know when that chance will come along again. Well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments