Jaguar

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 26, 20171,296 views9 comments

We had a number of nice jaguar encounters during my Brazil trip earlier in the year. One of the better photo opportunities occurred when this female popped out of the grass above our boat on our first afternoon of big cat exploration in the Pantanal. She proceeded to stalk the shoreline in search of prey for a while. In many cases, the jaguar encounters we had were against the light, so it was nice to get a cat with the waning sunlight on, rather than behind it.

Canon 1DX
Canon 600mm f/4 IS
ISO 400
1/2000th
f/6.3
(Hand-held)

Max

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on December 26, 2017 at 12:20 PM

A nice close, detailed look giving a clear sense it is on the prowl.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 28, 2017 at 11:34 AM

This warm lighting looks great. I wonder about the unusual frame ratio. Was this a situation of messy surroundings? I think more space around would be advantageous if surroundings allow.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 29, 2017 at 3:39 PM

Hello Max looks sharp with excellent details around the head. I bet seeing these guys up close is very thrilling. Beautiful textured markings !
Bill
www.billbickle.com

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 29, 2017 at 7:53 PM

Lon, there was blue sky above the grass. Not a terrible color (it certainly complemented the greens and golds well enough), but the impact of the cat and its spotted pattern against a solid wall of green vegetation was much more pronounced without a different lighter distracting tone in the frame.

Max

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 30, 2017 at 7:44 PM

Great lighting and detail here Max, I'm not sure about the pano crop. devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 31, 2017 at 1:08 PM

Very captivating image Max. The head turn and focused look of the cat makes the shot for me. devil

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on January 2, 2018 at 3:48 PM

Max: photos of big cats are always interesting, but I'm not sure as to why you chose to frame only half the body. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on January 3, 2018 at 10:37 PM

Richard, the cat was too close. angel

It popped out of the grass as we zoomed by and I grabbed the nearest lens. We soon backed off and I got plenty of full body shots, but this is one of the first shots of the encounter, and one I liked best for the color combination and the detail in the face and fur.

Max

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on January 5, 2018 at 5:27 AM

Max,
Great light, I like the positioning in the frame

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