Leopard in the Burn

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 17, 2014213 views15 comments

I anticipated some good leopard sightings during my recent Africa tour. Indeed, we saw 14 individuals, so it worked out well. However, I didn't really expect to have many (if any) sightings in Kruger National Park, which can be a difficult spot to find and photograph them. Fortune does smile on Kruger visitors occasionally (notably Morkel, with his fabulous leopard/tree sequence from a few years ago), and we had some nice luck on this visit as well.

We saw three leopards while in the park, and two just happened to be traversing some of the scattered controlled burn areas found along the road. Rather than dealing with the usual interference from tall grass and brush, we were able to catch the cats in open areas, with some gorgeous dark surroundings contrasting nicely against the leopards' golden fur. It was a unique opportunity to see these beauties in a different environment.

Canon 1DX
Canon 500mm f/4 IS
ISO 3200
1/640th
f/4

Max

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on August 17, 2014 at 1:02 PM

Just beautiful light and it really makes the cat pop from the background. Great detail and focus. Just a great image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on August 17, 2014 at 4:36 PM

Very cool, Max! The colour contrast works so well here, and the light also helped a good deal.
Looking forward to more from your trip - and thanks for the cameo mention

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on August 18, 2014 at 9:13 AM

The burnt area is really highlighting the leopard, quite unusual !
But I'm missing the large post.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on August 18, 2014 at 2:47 PM

That's something you don't see every day. Great shot!

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on August 19, 2014 at 3:24 AM

Max, this is stunning. The burn created a phenomenal environment for this striking capture...I cannot imagine a more dramatic subject against the dark, textured backdrop. I got very excited when I spotted a golden mantled ground squirrel scurrying around in a controlled burn area this spring in Waterton, but the resulting images sure don't have the inherent drama this does.

I guess this being a critique forum I should attempt some kind of suggestion for improvement, but that's a bit forced here.

I did wonder about just a shade more space above the leopard, or even a touch on the top, left and bottom, but honestly I have my doubts that could be any stronger than what you've presented here.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 19, 2014 at 8:27 AM

Your leopard is on fire, Max! What a golden glow against the black burnt soil, and to have the bonus of having it sauntering towards you...wow!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on August 19, 2014 at 10:15 AM

Thanks everyone.

John, the crop concern is valid. It feels a bit tight to me as well, but I believe I cropped this way to eliminate some distracting bright plant matter along the top edge (I'm not one to just clone things like that out). Despite the relatively clear burned area, there were still several bushes and branches that proved to be distracting or interfered with a clear view of the leopard. This is one of the few that worked out with it completely in the open.

Max

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

Comment posted by Brad Hill on August 19, 2014 at 11:10 AM

Hi Max,

Hard to imagine how one could find better surroundings to complement the subject - and make it absolutely jump out at the viewer! I have no substantial nits on this. In terms of the tightness of the crop - upon reflection I can see how some might find it a bit too tight, but have to say that thought didn't cross my mind when I first looked at the image. To me this is a solid capture with good post-processing...

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on August 19, 2014 at 2:58 PM

It does jump out nicely . . . Nice work !

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on August 20, 2014 at 1:30 AM

Beautiful image. As you and others say, the leopard stand out perfectly in this environment. Great image!

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 20, 2014 at 9:37 AM

This looks great to me. I must say the thumbnail suggested heavy post processing and I was happily surprised to see the actual circumstance. I sort of wish there was a bit more light at his feet, just to ground him in his brightness, if that makes sense. Given posture and shape, this would make a great vertical presentation, too.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 21, 2014 at 3:32 PM

Nice sot light, like the view of him coming toward the viewer and love the eyes. One small nit...wish I could see a larger version to enjoy it more.

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

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on August 22, 2014 at 5:08 PM

Wonderful image Max! The nicely lit leopard in front of the dark nondescript BG really works nice!
Also love the attitude displayed by the big cat's face!

Congrats!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 24, 2014 at 2:22 PM

What good luck that was for the leopard to be crossing the burnt area. Great shot!
Grt, Ingrid.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on September 16, 2014 at 3:25 AM

Max,
Normally controlled burning produces awful circumstances for images, but this bucks the trend completely, a truly great image

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