Sunrise Bobcat

Gallery: WildlifePosted February 27, 2011394 views8 comments

Hi everyone!

I just returned from a VERY successful Badlands trip! We were in the Badlands for 1 full day and two half days. During that time we witnessed 15 different cat encounters (consisting of a mother and her cub). We also spent time in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and I brought back photos of pronghorn, bison, golden eagles, wild asses, coyotes, hawks, and of course, bobcats! This little cat was sitting out on the rocks while we watched the sun rise and shine a beam of light right onto her! This is the mother bobcats cub(kitten..?), and I think it may be one from last year. I shot this has horizantals and verticals, but I much prefer the vertical for the badlands lighting up in the background. Tell me what you think!

P.S. This is the same cat Ben Olson was able to find on his trip. SO glad you were able to find them Ben!

PLEASE VIEW LARGE!

Camera: Nikon D3
Lens: 600mm f4
Teleconverter: 1.4x
Focal Length: 850mm
ISO: 800
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/400
Taken from car window

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on February 27, 2011 at 2:50 PM

I like the vertical comp, Joe. Interesting side lighting too, almost as though it's in the spotlight.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on February 27, 2011 at 3:55 PM

Great light and I like the environment in the background.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on February 27, 2011 at 5:51 PM

Hi Joe,

Glad you had a good trip. Nice first post from it as well! I really like the lighting on the cat and also that you've placed it so low (or grounded it) in the frame. The backdrop is pretty impressive but I think (if the image were mine) I'd selectively reduce the brightness of the hills/peaks in the top part of the background - to me they're bright enough, and the subject is small enough, that they compete a little for dominance, and attention for one's eye, in the frame. To do this right wouldn't be a real simple adjustment to make because you'd have to limit to the brightest regions and taper it gradually (I think the best way would be to use auto-feathered luminosity masks in Photoshop). But even without this adjustment the image is very nice as posted.

Cheers...looking forward to seeing more from the trip soon...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by mark cillo on February 28, 2011 at 9:45 AM

This is beautiful! Successful trip indeed!

Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on February 28, 2011 at 10:10 AM

Nice light, Joe. I am expecting we will be seeing more soon? I hope this subject gave you some additional poses showing open eyes, movement or action!

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 28, 2011 at 2:33 PM

Interesting composition to include the background mts and I like that morning glow, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 28, 2011 at 4:21 PM

Incredible wildlife and habitat image Joe, and the wildlife being a bobcat makes it even more special. Another Sweet Badlands Photo

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 1, 2011 at 12:48 PM

Simply beautiful Joe, gorgeous lighting and a great choice to go vertical with that BG.

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