Leopardess

Gallery: WildlifePosted January 10, 2014183 views10 comments

We found this lady with her cub the previous evening she was eating a European Stork, but almost totally hidden by grass and branches. We found her again the following morning and this time she made a brief appearance.
Taken in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
EOS 1D MkIV
200-400mm F4 with 1.4 EX at 490mm
F 6.3
ISO 800
1/1600

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on January 10, 2014 at 8:52 AM

Lovely portrait Ken,
I really enjoy the way the photo conveys the spontaneity of seeing th eleopard, as if she has just popped her head around the rock.
The pink tongue adds a nice touch of contrast.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on January 10, 2014 at 9:31 AM

Even in backlight you got a nice colors on the face of the leopard. I really like the detail in the eyes in the full versión. The tear in the ear makes me think about old fights. Nice background too. I would prefer not to have the rock in the foreground but it doesn't bother me too much.
Oscar.

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by James Blue on January 10, 2014 at 8:58 PM

Ken, it looks to me like someones getting hungry. Nice tongue action on this hunting leopardess....like the side light too!

Jim

Registered on June 16, 2013, 16 Posts, 144 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 11, 2014 at 1:13 AM

Thanks everybody for your comments, they are much appreciated

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on January 11, 2014 at 9:00 AM

Hey Ken,

Looks like you managed to get pretty close to this one. The subtle rim light, tongue, and torn ear combine well to add a lot of interest to this shot. And, when one looks at the larger version the eyes are pretty amazing. Shame about the out-of-focus rock and grasses - they're a little challenging for me to look by or ignore.

Thanks for sharing this one - looks like a place worth visiting!

Brad

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 11, 2014 at 9:58 AM

Brad,
Hwange is indeed a "place worth visiting", unlike Sabi Sands it is not a Zoo and there is certainly no guarantee of seeing predators, in fact the sighting produced our second and third Leopards in 10 visits. I go mainly for the Elephants, Sable and Roan, however the wet season is not the time for elephants .

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on January 11, 2014 at 10:19 AM

Beautiful gaze from those intense eyes!
Like the cut light n tongue too but the colours of rock appear to be from different palette.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Ashleigh Scully on January 11, 2014 at 3:18 PM

Beautiful shot and exposure, Mr. Watkins! I really like the backlighting and the gradient bokeh too.

Registered on November 4, 2013, 36 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on January 13, 2014 at 12:02 AM

This is a fine closeup portrait, with excellent detail and soft bokeh background. I wish the rock in the corner were a little less prominent, and maybe a different crop could eliminate some of its heaviness.

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

Comment posted by Joe James on January 13, 2014 at 10:21 PM

Nicely done Ken, I love the detail in the eyes in the larger version! The backlighting and OOF rock are minor nits given the positive aspects of this leopard head shot.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments