WPC 1415 - Wildlife CRITIQUE: John1959 has volunteered their WPC 1415 - Wildlife entry to the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what they could have done to make it better. Be nice...

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

John1959 has volunteered their WPC 1415 - Wildlife entry to the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what they could have done to make it better. Be nice, but be honest as this will help everyone with their craft. Thank you John1959 and thank you everyone!

From WPC 1415 - Wildlife RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=113

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-159520-1.html

Leopard in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. If you look closely there is a fault in the right eye. This enabled the Parl leopard project to name him Kabelo, which means gift. His gift to me was a wonderful set of pictures and fabulous memories.

(Download)

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

A nice image in a proper setting.

It should not be printed too large as it is a bit blurred - the eyes should be sharper. It looks like it was cropped from a larger image and there is no EXIF information.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

To add to the above comments, I think the shadows need to be opened ever so slightly, I might even try healing or cloning out the 3 blades of grass. At least the two on the right.

treadwl Loc: South Florida

I viewed this on my24 inch monitor and while it is a bit soft, when viewed from 3 feet it is more than acceptable. I love the strong directional light and the setting, which lends to the feel of the leopard being in his element. i would not open the shadows, because they would weaken the feel of the environment. However the blades of out of focus grass annoy me. I think content aware fill in Photoshop would remove those, quite cleanly. I would also remove the white spot on the tree branch on the right and i would remove the catch lights in the cats eyes, since to be they look out of place in the setting. That bright white in all the shadows seems out of place. The strong gaze of the cat carries the strength of the cat and the intensity. For me, you might just increase the intensity of the black just a touch to help show off that strong directional light and help create a more secretive feeling.

But with all that said, you have a great photo and what the heck do I know anyway??

Well done.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

This is a really nice catch, and I would have been proud to have gotten it! I do find the OOF blades of grass distracting. I know they are part of the setting, but they are so OOF. There seem to be a few dust spots in the image. Someone mentioned the catchlight in the eyes. Normally I like catchlight, but here it seems distracting somehow. Not exactly sure why. I think I would dodge a bit the body behind the trees, just to bring out a bit more detail. Love the pose and the trees that frame him. Really nice composition.

John1959 Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Thanks for the comments........I used a Canon 100-400 and had so much trouble with it at longer focal lengths, frustrating but it has now been off to the lens doctor who replaced the ultrasonic motor so this may be behind the lack of sharpness. I don't have photo shop but will have a go with Canon software. Thanks for the review.....

John1959 Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Thanks for reviewing, all comments help. My lens was acting up and this may be behind he softness. I have had it repaired so next time! How do I include the exif info when posting? Thanks.

John1959 Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Thanks for viewing, comments appreciated.

gym Loc: Athens, Georgia

Did you use a tripod? One of the things I've found with longer lenses, and I have this lens you used, is that when hand holding, the shutter speed should be a lot higher than one would think.
If this photo was taken hand held at the longer end of the range, and the shutter speed was below 1/800 of a second, then that might account for the softness of the image.

John1959 Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Thanks Gym. Handheld.....checked my info .....170mm 1/500....ISO 100 f5.6. The lens has since had its motor renewed as had problems beyond this range, I think this was the focus issue, thanks for reviewing much appreciated.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

I agree largely with the suggestions above. This image begs to be sharper. I wonder if this is not on the warm side. However, I find one issue not mentioned already: the tongue. It seems incongruous here because it is too small to be important yet large enough to be out of place. I would remove it.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

St3v3M wrote:

John1959 has volunteered their WPC 1415 - Wildlife entry to the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what they could have done to make it better. Be nice, but be honest as this will help everyone with their craft. Thank you John1959 and thank you everyone!

From WPC 1415 - Wildlife RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=113

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-159520-1.html

xxxxxxxxxx

a close leopard staring right past you! Impact++

tech:
the shadows need some fill light in ACR
Exposure and focus are fine unless you are pixel peeping. It will make a fine larger print to be viewed from at least a distance equal to the print's diagonal.
(Normal Viewing Distance).
The OOF grasses or seed heads badly need to be removed.

Composition:
excellent placement of leopard at diagonal to, an crossin moderat diagonals of the two big branches. Good use of ROT.

Impact: 4.5
Technical:3
Composition: 4.5
Total: 13/15

Dave in SD

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

John1959 wrote:

Thanks Gym. Handheld.....checked my info .....170mm 1/500....ISO 100 f5.6. The lens has since had its motor renewed as had problems beyond this range, I think this was the focus issue, thanks for reviewing much appreciated.

I'd like to know two things before I comment. Was this shot in the wild or was the animal in captivity? Did you use a flash for this shot and if so how was it mounted?

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I would also remove the white spot on the tree branch on the right and i would remove the catch lights in the cats eyes, since to be they look out of place in the setting. That bright white in all the shadows seems out of place. The strong gaze of the cat carries the strength of the cat and the intensity.
Well done.[/quote]

Good catch, I missed the catch lights and white makings on the tree, probably due to the blades of grass being so distracting. Which I agree, all need to go.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

mcveed wrote:

I'd like to know two things before I comment. Was this shot in the wild or was the animal in captivity? Did you use a flash for this shot and if so how was it mounted?

Hi, Mcveed,
I checked with the O.P. and this was, indeed, a wild, not a captive, leopard. I have some not-minimal concern, however, about the health of that cat, given the obvious atrophy of the masseter muscles evidenced by the prominance of the zygoma and other cranial bony structures. Also, note the knobby "backbone" in silhouette to the right of the cat's head. Sure looks like he's missed far too many meals, eh?

Your avatar suggests you've some experience photographing African predators? Howzabout submitting some of those images?

best regards,
Dave in SD