If Look Could Kill ...

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 1, 2011182 views9 comments

Canon EOS 7D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM MK II @ 150mm, Aperture Priority @ f/8 (1/1000 sec), -2/3 EV, ISO 400, Handheld, JPEG from RAW, Copped about 50% from Full Frame

Of the three Leopards they have in the breeding programme at the Big Cat Reserve (Limpopo, South Africa), as handsome and photogenic as this character is, I spent the least amount of time with him. Reason being that no matter who pays him a visit, be it the rangers he's more than familiar with or somewhat more wary strangers like me, he's not at all happy with close human contact, so after just a few shots I decided it best to back away and leave him in peace.

Intrepid as I am …... OK, the wire fence between us no doubt played a major factor in my ability to remain cool-headed and fairly nonchalant at the hissing and growls, nevertheless, I was able to keep my wits about me enough to actually frame the shot to where the full frame is composed pretty much like this with the subject set to the left and plenty of space for it to look into on the right, for which I duly gave myself a hearty pat on the back as we drove off in search of more amiable subjects ;^)

Much as I'm happy with the full frame version, I immediately saw much greater potential for a dynamic close-up by cropping it to this extent. Not sure how well it will come out blown up larger, but in A3 size it comes up wonderful in print!

Critique and comments always welcome.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Jeffry Oonk on October 1, 2011 at 4:05 AM

Powerful and scary expression. (call yourself luckily those eyes were not focused on you Ashley.) Very warm light.
Although I can see why you cropped the image to what it is now, I think I would prefer to see a bit more space on the top of the frame.
I can see a weird pattern in the background, which is most obvious on the large brown part on the right side of the frame (looks like the back of an animal.....). Is that pattern caused by the shadow of the fence? Or a result of a post process exercise?

Overall a nice frame though.

Thx for sharing.
Jef

Registered on February 5, 2011, 21 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on October 1, 2011 at 4:38 AM

Very impressive Ashley, but the BG does look a little odd as mentioned above?????????

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 1, 2011 at 9:37 AM

I can't complain about the tight crop here Ashley, this leopard's fierce look demands it.
Razor sharp, glad to hear you had the good sense to shoot this from behind a fence @ 150mm

Well done.

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on October 1, 2011 at 12:16 PM

Impressive image!! The larger image is great. I would suggest even a tighter crop to focus as much as possible just on the leopards face. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Hussain Nalwala on October 1, 2011 at 11:30 PM

Ashley again a beautiful shot... Love the details in it. ... You have said so much in your shots at Limpopo that I feel on my next visit to South Africa I must take out time and visit this place. Can you please give me the address or website details of this place ...

Registered on April 18, 2011, 298 Posts, 339 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 2, 2011 at 12:13 AM

Excellent detail on the face area and I guess this was a early morning or late afternoon shot from the lighting. The left part of the image does draw my eye as I try to figure out what is going on there. I do like the idea of maybe going with a portrait. Nice job in getting this, the look from the leopard really shows he is not happy.

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on October 2, 2011 at 9:53 AM

Beautiful detail!

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 2, 2011 at 2:28 PM

Wow, I'd have "backed away" too Ashley. That's one fierce looking face and I really like seeing the detail there. So vivid that I can almost hear the growling and hissing in my mind.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 3, 2011 at 5:26 AM

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and comments Jef, Steve, Howard, John, Hussain, Jim, Lon, and Ron :^)

Jef & Steve: Really not sure what caused that strange effect on the rock seen on the right of the frame, but it's in the original capture as opposed to having been introduced during post-processing. At first I found it a little distracting, but the more I looked at it I saw it as adding a sort of electrifying appearance, which I think lends well to the image as a whole!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments