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Amur Leopard


Amur Leopard
Photo Information
Copyright: Mark Oxley (MojoUK) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 65 W: 7 N: 328] (1479)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-15
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM, Digital ISO 200
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/90 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-26 13:29
Viewed: 1770
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Amur Leopard taken at Marwell Zoo. This is the most endangered big Cat in the world with around 40 animals left in the wild.

Taken through glass where unwanted reflections are always a problem. One way I have found to eliminate this is to place the lens hood against the glass as striaght on as you can. I always have a cloth in my bag to wipe it clean before hand.

Image slightly croped, levels adjusted using b&w points and a slight boost of saturation. I also selected the eyes and brightened them using levels and finaly sharpened after resize and added the frame.

Physical Characteristics

Amur leopards are very distinct from other leopards. Their long legs and long hair allow them to survive in cold, snowy climates. Their spots are widely spaced rosettes with thick borders. The color of their fur changes from lighter in the winter to a more reddish-yellow in the summer.
Size of average adult
weight: male = 82 - 198 pounds, female = 62 - 132 pounds
Approximate life span is 23 years in captivity.

Diet
Wild: roe deer, sika deer, hares, badgers, and musk deer

Behavior
Stalk their prey, eat alone, will hide food in trees for later
Good climbers, can descend trees head first
Solitary, mark their territories with urine
Strong swimmers
Nocturnal (active at night )
Can run at a speed of 37 miles per hour for short periods
Can leap 20 feet horizontally, 10 feet vertically
Reproduction
sexual maturity: 3 years
breeding season: most cubs are born in spring and early summer
gestation: 90 - 105 days
litter size: 1 - 6
the cubs' eyes open at 10 days, they are weaned at 3 months, leave mother at 18 - 24 months
jmp, Bufo, MattiasR, carper, aido, vhemmati has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1740 W: 95 N: 2273] (8411)
  • [2006-08-26 13:38]

Hi Mark,
An excellent portrait of this Leopard. Color, details, pose and light are perfect. Perhaps a crop a little broader would be better, but I like as it is. I'd like that both ears look to the front.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 422 W: 73 N: 984] (4241)
  • [2006-08-26 14:17]

Hello Mark,
perfectly sharp and nice composition. Though I'm normally not really fond of framefilling portrets, I like this one.
Regards,
Jacob

Hi mark,
Great portrait with stunning details and perfect colors. I am just amazed how clear this shot is considering it was taken through glass. The expression on its face, and especially the eyes is priceless.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • shal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 69 N: 475] (2118)
  • [2006-08-26 15:14]

Hey Mark,
I really admire your composition here,
great DOf and details on the eyes and wiskers,
Good work,
Vishal Sabharwal

  • Great 
  • Vicky Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 53 W: 0 N: 94] (468)
  • [2006-08-26 15:29]

Hi Mark,
Excellent portrait of this Leopard. Very sharp and the colours are strong. You would never know it was taken through glass and your preparations beforehand have certainly worked well. Nice, smooth, uncluttered background, and I like the way it is almost the same colour as him! I also like the tight cropping. Good frame to finish it off. Best wishes, Vicky

Hello Mark

A really WOW portrait, just fantasitc. The POV is great aswell as the colors, details and sharpness. The BG is also very nice. A nice note and a beautful frame to go with this wonderful portrait.
TFS
Mattias

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3059 W: 231 N: 6139] (20984)
  • [2006-08-27 1:20]

That is such a gorgeous animal, Mark.
I could look at it forever. I love those green eyes.
Beautiful portrait with sharp details and excellent exposure.
The POV is fantastic.
TFS. : )

a very good photo Mark,
the head is perfect, the point of view is great, the details are super, yes this is a very good photo of yours, my compliments for it, well done.
gr. jaap

Good morning Mark,
Just time for a quick visit.
This is a lovely portrait of a stunning big cat.
Nice capture. enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Hello Mark, excllent colors, Bg, POV DOF Perfect details, excellent Portrait, TFs Kyle

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2006-08-27 14:30]

Lovely portrait, I love the positioning of the eye level as the photo has exellent eye contact. Lovely details, sharp and lovely natural colours. Lovely.

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1044 W: 156 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-08-27 19:53]

Hi Mark,
This is beautiful, a superb shot. The PP work is spot-on, the work on the eyes is excellent, it gives the image a studio quality. Great detail and colours, a perfect portrait shot. I've never got anything near this quality of the Amurs at Marwell before.
Cheers,
Adrian

Hi,

a great portrait of this handsome cat. So sad to hear about the number of them left in the world, where are humans going with this destruction???

TFS

-V

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