Motif: Classic leopard pose.

Posted by Lerkes on Wed Mar 10, 2004 9:23 pm

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Taken in Samburu, Kenya. Canon EOS 3 500 f/4.5 with 2x, beanbag. Fuji 200 print film. We had very good luck with leopards on my trip - we saw 11 different ones. Every one was a treat to see. I wish the background was better but that's the way it goes. Should I clone out all those branches? Steve

Steven J Berkowitz, VMD
Kirkwood, PA
http://www.pbase.com/lerkes

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by george forrest on Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:45 pm

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Hi Steve, Beautiful animal, and a nice pose. Eyes are sharp and intense. A (dark) blue sky background would have pushed this one over the top, but you're right, we take what we can get. The branches seem quite natural and don't bother me at all. Very nice.

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by Neil Fitzgerald on Thu Mar 11, 2004 1:01 am

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Very nice, Looks like the lattitude of the print film saved this one. The branches don't bother me and there is enough colour in the background for me. I actually like the BG as it gives this shot a slightly different and very natural look.

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by DC on Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:59 am

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Beautiful cat nicely taken. I might clone out that branch that's hanging down from the top of the frame, but other than that it's great as is.

Dave
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by PF on Thu Mar 11, 2004 4:32 am

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Great! I think the most important is a clean foreground as it's not easy to obtain.

For the comparison, here is a version with a "cleaner" background

PF
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by Carol Clarke on Thu Mar 11, 2004 4:37 am

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You take them where you find them ....and at least you found them! It just doesn't look natural for a Leopard to be in a completely clean BG!

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by Noel on Thu Mar 11, 2004 9:41 am

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All I can say is, wow, I envy you seeing all those cats in the wild. This is, as you say, classic. Beautiful!

I vote to leave the branches in, and maybe use the Shadows/Highlights filter to lighten up the cat just a bit. Saturate the colors some to make the trees a little greener, and noise reduce the sky a little. Something along these lines:

-Noel

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by E.J. Peiker on Thu Mar 11, 2004 10:10 am

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The reposts are very nice but PLEASE get permission from the original author before reposting their image.

This is a very nice shot.

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by Dave Zawalski on Thu Mar 11, 2004 11:34 am

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I really like the shadows highlight version that Noel posted..really brings attention to your subject. nice sighting and nice capture in difficult subject lighting conditions.

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by Dennis Olivero on Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:45 pm

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Dr Berkowitz
Thanks for contributing the feline motif this week! What an experience. I like the branches in FWIW, maybe I would just dump the ones that intersect with the main subject, but all in all I think they provide a sense of place for the image.. Great going ... and thanks again for posting..

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by Lerkes on Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:10 pm

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Thanks for all the nice comments and suggestions - they are all very helpful. Dennis - please call me Steve - you make me feel like a grown up and I'm not even 50 yet.

Steve

Steven J Berkowitz, VMD
Kirkwood, PA
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by NDCheryl on Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:26 pm

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Steve,

I like this shot as is as well as with the shadow highlight changes. what a nice relaxed leopard and you were lucky to have so many on your trip. Thanks for posting to the motif.

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by apana on Tue Mar 16, 2004 6:42 am

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I prefer the first image, it seems more natural and despite the branches, it is still an excellent image.

Apana

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