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Leopard Descending
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Leopard Descending

by Richard Sandor

Gallery: WildlifePosted October 5, 2014191 views8 comments
Once before on this trip, I had watched a leopard descend from a tree. I wasn't able though, to get all the cat's tail in the shot. Luckily, I was presented with a second opportunity. This time I was ready with the camera in portrait orientation.
What was most amazing when the leopard descended, was that it appeared to "walk" down the trunk. In the sequence I took, the leopard took 4 or 5 steps down the trunk in an absolutely vertical position and didn't jump until it was about 5 feet from the ground.
About 15% of the left side has been cropped. Taken with a D4 and 80-400 at 260, 1/2000, f/7.1 and auto ISO. Richard

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 6, 2014 at 2:07 AM
Richard,

Always a difficult shot to get and totally dependent on where the Leopard chooses to descend, certainly looks like you were in the right place here!

Glad you got this before the Leopard got lower as you have avoided the background shrubbery

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Rebecka on October 6, 2014 at 11:42 AM
An amazing capture! It looks like his backside is about to flip over and he'll do a somersault down to the ground. Truly incredible how leopards get down headfirst, and you caught him at the perfect moment. :toast:
Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on October 6, 2014 at 5:31 PM
:eek: This is about as good as you can get this shot, Richard.
Placement, pose, light, framing, all top notch. :toast:
Where was this? Guessing Sabi-Sands or Timbavati?
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on October 7, 2014 at 9:41 PM
Great job of capturing the action in this one Richard...very cool image. :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on October 8, 2014 at 2:19 AM
Yes, leopards do have this amazing ability to glide vertically, head down, down trees! Remarkable image!
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on October 8, 2014 at 10:30 AM
Thanks to all for your comments. Morkel: you were very close. This was taken at Tintswalo Lodge in the Manyeleti reserve. Richard
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 8, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Richard,

Small World?
Last time we visited Tintswalo was in April 2004, when we used to do visits for a Travel Agent ( I really admit to that, but I do not do it anymore), I cannot remember seeing Leopards then :biggrin:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 8, 2014 at 5:04 PM
Great comp and very cool to get this guy headed down the tree, well done Richard :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments