<< Previous Next >>

°° Hope Springs Eternal


°° Hope Springs Eternal
Photo Information
Copyright: Adrian Hutton (aido) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-22
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D2X, Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO HSM DG, DxRAW ISO 250
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/180 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Vanderschelden's favourites, jmp *1, Wildlife Heritage Foundation, UK, Wild cats portraits [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-01-24 16:31
Viewed: 1869
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My first post for a while, I haven't been out and about with my camera so here is an Amur Leopard from the archives. Taken at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation in Kent July 2006.

Due to diminishing numbers of big Cats in the wild (in the case of the Amur Leopard an estimated 30 survive in the wild today), much more inter-breeding is happening than in previous years. This results in many still-born cubs and a weaker bloodline with more genetic diseases being introduced, and if left the wild population will eventually die out.

The Wildlife Heritage Foundation is not a zoo, nor is it open to the public. It is part of a Europe-wide breeding program, the objective of which is to increase genetic diversity in the bloodlines of big cats, with the aim of introducing these pure bloodlines back into the wild population. Through the cooperation between the breeding centres and a dedicated program, more bloodlines are being created. These are mapped so that no inter-breeding takes place and new bloodlines are being generated across Europe. It’s a great program and a huge step in preserving the wild population of many species of big cats. The WHF are currently breeding Sumatran Tigers and Amur Leopards although they do have other big cats there as they double as a rescue centre.

Their website is here. Please take a look, it’s well worth a visit.

I think that the future of the Amur Leopard has not looked good for a long time, and saying it is bleak right now is an understatement. However, last year the Zoological Society of London reported that figures in the wild were increasing. Along with the valiant efforts of a lot of people, including the breeding centres such as the WHF, hope seems to be coming from nothing. Hence the title.


Shutter 1/180
Aperture f/6.3
ISO 250
Matrix Metering
Exposure Bias -1.33
Focal Length 420mm
Hand-held

PP:
Sharpened with USM
Resize / Frame

---

mirceax, BenF, jmp, RAP, SkyF, claudine, JoseMiguel, marhowie, coasties, scottevers7, jcoowanitwong, radz, loot, horia, Alex99, sAner, pilonm, dew77, vanderschelden, metcher, cecilia, sily, Debz has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To AnimalExplorer: Thank Paulaido 1 03-11 19:42
To wuta: Thanksaido 1 01-27 15:55
To horia: Look what the cat dragged in :-)aido 1 01-26 23:22
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Adrian,
Great animal profile,amazing details,super composition and colours,
tfs
Mircea

  • Great 
  • BenF Silver Note Writer [C: 4 W: 0 N: 14] (92)
  • [2007-01-24 16:40]

Hello Adrian,
Good shot.
Very nice and sharp and the composition is good.
Lovely colour.
Well done,
BEN

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2007-01-24 16:45]

Hi Adrian,
Great surprise to see this wonderful portrait. As usual coming from you, focus, exposure, sharpness, colour and composition -not say the cat- are awesome.
Best regards, José M.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-01-24 16:49]

Bienvenido nuevamente estimado amigo... una impresionante capturas principalmente por el punto de vista captado, la gran agudeza de la imagen a pesar de la gran distancia focal y el perfecto foco y consiguiente desenfoque del fondo.
La agudeza es realzada por la apropiada iluminación intensa pero bien controlada.
Apropiado encuadre para resaltar la parte anterior del felino.
Excelente regreso, sin dudas.
Un cordial saludo desde Buenos Aires... Ricardo

Welcome back dear friend... an impressive capture mainly for the captured point of view, the great sharpness of the image in spite of the great focal length and the perfect focus and resultant out of focus of the bottom.
The clearness is enhanced by the appropriate intense illumination but well controlled.
Suitable framing to project the front part of the feline.
Excellent return, without doubts.
A cordial greeting from Buenos Aires... Ricardo

Hello Adrian,
Wonderful portrait profile!
I like a lot the POV and the pose captured, an image with a lot of character.
The cat is seen plenty of clear and razorsharp details, that let us enjoy the pattern and colors of their fur.
I like also the way that you managed DOF and the info seen at the background.
Excellent this horizontal composition.
Very interesting the info in your note.
Congratulations, thanks for share and best regards,
JM

Amazing profile portrait Adrian..
Excellence all around here, nothing else to say :)
Very well done.

Hi Adrian

Nice to see a post from you! It has been a while. A lovely shot. Very clear with tack sharp details. I like the chosen POV too. :-)

Hi Adrian,
Great portrait shot on this Amur Leopard. Great light, and a spot on exposure. Superb colors and detail. Good to see you back! Are you still in the Dallas area? Hopefully tou will have more time for photos.
Scott

Hi Adrian,
Very good-looking leopard, very nicely captured.
Great sharpness, very nice details, and neat image.
Superb shot.

Ben Lakitan

Hi Adrian,
Very nice portrait of this rare breed. Focus, exposure, composition are perfect. TFS this superb photo.
JC

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-01-24 21:50]

Hello Adrian

Another amazing portrait of this amur leopard.It is heartbreaking to read how bleak the outlook for this big cat is, but it is also heartening to read about the efforts of all the people who are going to turn this situation around.The photo is razor sharp with beautiful details and well saturated colours.A lovely BG with nice grassy surroundings.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 615 W: 11 N: 624] (3332)
  • [2007-01-24 21:50]

Very nice side profile!!though am not seeing his eys directly but side glance he is looking something very intensely!!DOF is amazing!!!.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2084 W: 216 N: 3766] (12498)
  • [2007-01-25 3:24]
  • [+]

Well look what the cat dragged in! :)))
(if i'm not mistaken, that's a saying, right?) :))

Very nice to see you back, Adrian!
I hope everything is well with you and also that you'll have some more free time in the near future, so we could see some more charming posts from you more often :)

This Amur Leopard is splendid but apparently it has a very sad story :(( It's quite heartbreaking to hear that this wonderful species is on the verge of extinction.

Anyway, the picture is superb and i'm a bit amazed of really how much you managed to get into full-focus with only a f/6.3.
The sharpness is simply impeccable, the natural colors are lovely and the exposure and light are terrifically managed.
The composition is nice and the presentation, too.
Very well done, my friend! (as usual)

Cheers and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3043 W: 148 N: 4547] (14679)
  • [2007-01-25 4:01]

Dear Adrian.
Was it necessary to hide from us this beauty so much time?

Next your outstanding cat picture. Your skillfulness to reflect the mood of the animal and to catch the amazing moment amazes the imagination. Quality of the image, as usual for your pictures, is incomparable. Clearness of the colours, exactness of the lines, skilful and impressive cropping, excellent exposure and precisely selected DOF - All this is inseparable from it and other yours photos. BRAVO, TFS and best wishes.
Alexei.

P.S. Is there something else in your archives?

hi adrian,
well seen & captured shot,
excellent details, nice focus, pov sharpness & composition,
very well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Adrian,
This is a very nice surprise! I will say like Sky, how could you have kept this beauty in your computer for such a long time? This is a great portrait, very detailed, well composed and exposed; a high quality picture as we are used to see from you. I also enjoyed reading your interesting notes. Thanks and welcome back :)
Claudine

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2007-01-25 6:32]

Hello Adrian,

Long time no see! I am glad to see you post again. This is a wonderful, clean portrait. Razorsharp details and natural colors. Excellent exposure and good DOF. Compositionwise I would have chosen to keep the whiskers in the frame, but that's nitpicking from my side. TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2007-01-25 7:07]

Hello Adrian,
How could you keep such an beauty from us for so long, no more hiding those wonderful shots in the archieves we anxious to see them.
The quality of this portrait is superp, details colors and sharpness are excellent. I love the profile view of this wonderful cat. Great POV and very nice OOF BG.
TFS Sky

Hello Adrian,

I'm so happy that you're back on TN!!! Your great picture were missing a lot of us!!! This picture is amazing! The details of the fur just wonderful! Your pov cannot be better... The only thing is that we don't see the whole "vibrisse in french" (mustach?) at the bottom of the picture... But I suspect that this picture is full framed! Exposition is excellent and I like the bg letting us see how great is the Leopard's camouflage can be!

Great picture and TFS,

Michel

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-01-25 12:46]

Hello Adrian,
Nice to see a new post from you again.Magnificent capture.POV,colors,details,sharpness,BG and composition are excellent.Have a great day!
TFS...:-)

A great shot, Adrian.
Sharpness is too crazy...
Wonderful colours and composition.
The leopard is a beauty.
No critiques.
TFS
Annick

Hi, Adrian.
Nice portrait with excellent exposure and sharpness. Well composed. Lovely colors in good harmony and nice BG.

  •      
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1198] (4928)
  • [2007-01-25 16:04]

Hello Adrian
What an excellent shot! Just perfect sharpness, color, dof, pov and composition.
Really joyful to the eyes.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes
Maite

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5726 W: 605 N: 3416] (9137)
  • [2007-01-25 18:23]
  • [3]

Hi Adrian

It sure is great to see a posting from you again, especially since it is such a beauty as well. One could easily call this guy Mr. Leopard, because even on the photo he demands respect and caution. I just love that fixed, intent, and focused stare. It certainly looks like he could go over into chase mode at any moment.

I was going to say that there are two aspects that really make this photo outstanding, but then I realised it is not all. Everything here makes it outstanding; the lovely composition, the rich colours, the amazing details, the brilliant BG, and the excellent usage of the available light. Of course, don’t ignore the value that those whiskers and the remarkable eye add to the visual impact.

Wonderful work my friend and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3452 W: 144 N: 5902] (17486)
  • [2007-01-26 16:35]

I love the composition here Adrian. So intense - looks like my cat going for a mouse!! Beautiful expression and excellent focus, TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 871 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2007-01-27 15:04]
  • [+]

Hello Aido , Fantastic shot you came ,realy great capture from the leopard , details and the colours ar amezing , tfs, Greetings Teunie .

Outstanding! the clarity,colour and detail are awesome...
Well photograph...

Cecilia

Hello Adrian,

Wellcome back my friend! It's good to see new photos from you! You haven't been posting for a while but as far as I can see your abilities to produce high quality images are still on top.
This photo of yours looks much alike one of your previous posted photos called "For Monica" in the mirror. The same great composition and perfect details makes me think it was difficult for you to choose which to post first.
Exposure is spot-on and your ability to set the exposure compensation is unsurpassed. Excellent control of the light. I especially like the fact that there is plenty of light in the leopard's eyes and even the details in the pupil are clearly visible. The catchlights make the cat look more "alive"! The tension is better caught in the "For Monika" photo but this is NOT a negative fact. At least it doesn't prevent me from saying that this picture is one of the best leopard pictures seen on TN! Outstanding work my friend! Thanks!

With Friendly Regards,
Eddie

  • Great 
  • sily Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 252 W: 6 N: 391] (1859)
  • [2007-02-09 17:27]

Hi Adrian!
Just to congratulate you on another perfect pic.
Beautiful profile, and technicaly perfect.

  • Great 
  • mbasil Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 348 W: 146 N: 706] (3059)
  • [2007-02-11 11:12]

Wow! A stunner, Adrian. Great expression and good details on those whiskers.
Mike

Hi again Adrian,

Extremely nice detail in this beautiful colored capture, it's as though it were coming out my screen.

Glad to see you back, Wherre have you been lately. Always great to see new post from you. :)

Olá Adrian

Simplismente bela esta foto...uma imagem forte e encantadora. As cores são perfeitas, a composição está muito boa.
Parabéns!

Abraços,
Vera.

Hi Adrian,

Amazing!!! Perfect details and focus!!!
Very well done!

TFS
Norbert

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3072 W: 232 N: 5866] (19726)
  • [2007-09-26 22:07]

What a beauty, Adrian.
That is an excellent and rare close-up to a very rare animal.
Details and colors are amazing and really jump out to my eyes.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • mrcrow Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 458 W: 123 N: 197] (2996)
  • [2007-10-01 10:28]

the great leopard is thought to be one of mans earliest predators..they seem to like human meat..live in caves and pick off the guys near the door when the rain and wind forced them in
exquisite shot here in profile with the usual chin up for hunting position..i think it must clear the airways for scenting..i watched lioness in a big pride hunt like this as well
god bless
geof

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF