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Leopard cub on tree
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Leopard cub on tree

by Ajit Huilgol

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 27, 2012622 views16 comments
This is the same cub I posted earlier. He was very adventurous, especially compared to his shy sister, who chose to stay with mom on another tree, in thick cover. He had apparently fed well on a fresh spotted deer kill that his mother had made and taken up the tree on which she was resting along with her female cub. Full of energy, but afraid to get down on the ground what with all the vehicles he had attracted, he moved around on 'his' tree, giving us all card loads of images. You can make out, even at this young age (about 5-6 months old), all the right moves, the stealth, the softness in the stride, the alertness... all the tools he will need in another year's time when he will perforce have to set out on his own.
Location: Kabini, Karnataka, India
Date: June, 2012
Equip: Canon 5D Mlll, Canon 500 f4 with 1.4 TC
Specs: ISO 2500, f6.3, 1/160s, beanbag on vehicle. Evaluative metering, aperture priority, 0 comp

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/ critiques.

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Danny Laredo on June 27, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Love the look the Leopard has on his face. :toast:
Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on June 27, 2012 at 11:52 AM
I'm a much bigger fan of this shot, mainly due to the eye contact. I find the background mix of tree trunks and vegetation really pleasing as well. Nice job achieving this shot in low light.

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on June 27, 2012 at 12:00 PM
That is one very impressive shot Ajit. This is a beautiful animal and a well executed image of it.
Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments
Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on June 27, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Love this picture! In my opinion I like it a little more than your last post of this guy...I just love the look he has when stalking! What great detail you have in his fur! It must have been an amazing experience to get to see a leopard in it's natural habitat.
Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on June 27, 2012 at 4:39 PM
Lovely image in challenging conditions Ajit! Love that pose...
how are you finding the 5Dmk3? :smile:
That really is a big tree! I think opening up to f5.6 and getting a bit more SS would have made for a sharper head (motion blur) :wink:
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Butch Lama on June 27, 2012 at 7:25 PM
The lift off hind leg and front paw with that eye contact has a nice impact. Love the tree trunks framing the image too.
Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on June 27, 2012 at 9:45 PM
The stare and the raised paw ,plus the habitat make this just outstanding Ajit .you have realy captured the feeling for us of being there oneself . :wavey: :toast:
Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on June 27, 2012 at 10:01 PM
I really love the 5D Mlll, Morkel for its ability to shoot in low light. I have some images shot at ISO 8000 that are usable!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Brad Hill on June 29, 2012 at 8:53 AM
Hi Ajit,

I'm with those who prefer this shot over your previous one. LIke the look on the leopard's face and its pose/posture is excellent.

Cheers...thanks for sharing this...

Brad
Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on June 29, 2012 at 10:50 PM
It's kinda funny, Brad, and others who preferred this image to that of the leaping leopard; I posted both images on indianaturewatch.net, and the viewers and critiques went gaga over the latter, while this image got a more ho-hum response! Talk about cultural differences! :biggrin:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on July 2, 2012 at 12:13 PM
This is a beauty Ajit, I love it all the way! I also prefer this one over your previous leopard post, for what its worth. :wink: :toast:
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on July 3, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Great body language and beautiful gaze works wonder here, a terrific image !!!
Jagdeep Rajput :toast:
Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments
Comment posted by Joe James on July 3, 2012 at 9:36 PM
Lovely shot Ajit! I love the composition of this shot. Great eye contact and positioning of the Leopard in the frame.
Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on July 5, 2012 at 12:35 AM
Gorgeous shot showing the intensity of this amazing animal. I would love a crop on the right, eliminating the tree branch in the upper right and the leaves in the lower right. Then I could really focus in on those amazing eyes. Nicely done.
Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on July 8, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Outstanding image!!! The expression on the cubs face is just great. Nicely framed in the between the tree branches. It is the better of the 2. Thanks for sharing.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 10, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Wondeful image of a leopard on the prowl, and I do like the habitat setting.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments