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Ingwe


Ingwe
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul van Slooten (pvs) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1170 W: 261 N: 3112] (14151)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-21
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Sony Alfa dSLR A700, Sony 300mm F2.8 G, Digital RAW 400
Exposure: f/4, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Krugerpark October 2008
Date Submitted: 2009-01-30 1:30
Viewed: 3985
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 33
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today another upload of our meeting with Ingwe (Leopard in Zulu language),one of our many highlights during last krugertrip,this youngster was laying in this tree alongside the road when we saw him the first time,I reckon the distance was only 4 to 5 meteres away,hope you like it and enjoy your weekend.

Leopards (Panthera pardus) are one of the four 'big cats' of the genus Panthera. (The others are the Lion, Tiger, and Jaguar). They range in size from 1 to almost 2 metres long, and weigh between 30 and 70 kilos. Females are typically around two-thirds the size of males.

Most Leopards are orange or fawn with black spots, but their coats are very variable. The spots tend to be smaller on the head, larger and have pale centres on the body.

Originally, it was thought that a Leopard was a hybrid between a Lion and a Panther, and the Leopard's common name derives from this belief: leo is the Latin for lion, and pard is an old term meaning panther. In fact, a "panther" can be any of several species of large felid which happen to have genes for more black pigment than orange-tan pigment, thus producing a pure black coat as opposed to the usual spotted one. "Panthers", in other words, are simply dark-furred Leopards (or a dark form of several other big cats: see black panther).

Prior to the human-induced changes of tha last few hundred years, Leopards were the most widely distributed of all felids: they were found through most of Africa (with the exception of the Sahara Desert), as well as parts of Asia Minor and the Middle East, India, Pakistan, China, Siberia, much of mainland South-east Asia, and the islands of Java, Zanzibar, and Sri Lanka.

Their lifestyle and diet are as varied as that of any big cat. They are able to hunt in trees as well as on the ground, and they feed on insects, rodents, fish, and larger game such as antelope. They are excellent tree climbers, and often protect their larger kills by carrying them up a tree.

A Leopard can be distinguished from the closely related Jaguar by its rings, or rosettes. These, unlike those of the Jaguar, never have spots inside them.

There are 7 subspecies of Leopard (one of them extinct) and several other big cats called leopards which are not the same species, although they are related.


Family Felidae
Subfamily Felinae: about 30, mostly small to medium-sized, species
Subfamily Pantherinae
Marbled Cat, Pardofelis marmorata
Clouded Leopard, Neofelis nebulosa
Snow Leopard, Uncia uncia
Lion, Panthera leo
Tiger, Panthera tigris
Leopard, Panthera pardus
African Leopard, Panthera pardus pardus
Amur Leopard, Panthera pardus orientalis (critically endangered)
Anatolian Leopard, Panthera pardus tulliana (critically endangered)
Barbary Leopard, Panthera pardus panthera (critically endangered)
Sinai Leopard, Panthera pardus jarvisi
South Arabian Leopard, Panthera pardus nimr (critically endangered)
Zanzibar Leopard, Panthera pardus adersi (extinct)
Jaguar, Panthera onca
Subfamily Acinonychinae: Cheetah
robindb, vanderschelden, jaycee, nglen, Gert-Paassen, haraprasan, goldyrs, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Paul,

Your trip seems to be getting better and better. Good composition, detail and pose on this leopard in its natural habitat.

TFS

Robin

Hi Paul
Nice portrait. Perfect focus with rich details and natural colors.
Regards.
Razvan

Hello Paul,
beautiful portrait of Ingwe! Very nice composition, details and pose!

Best regards, Leonid

dear Paul, an amzing young leopard with nice natural light, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3179 W: 162 N: 1471] (4331)
  • [2009-01-30 4:34]

Hej Paul,
Excellent close-up of this Leopard in a very nice pose. Wonderful details and colors, I love the light colour of the eyes! Great eye contact too and very well composed.
TFS and cheers, Ulla

  • Good 
  • Athos (145)
  • [2009-01-30 4:41]

Good shoot, but still need a little colours and contrast. In my opinion.

Hello Paul,
I agree with some of the critiques it's not a good shot. It's a Very good shot.
Wonderful cat you share here. Beautiful animal; looks at those eyes. Very good focus. Concerning the former I like the branch in front of the animal being sharp as well and then disappearing in the background behind that tree.
Well done!
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2683 W: 11 N: 7301] (23103)
  • [2009-01-30 10:50]

Hi Paul,

The Leopard is such a beautiful animal and you captured him in all his glory. I love the pale eyes which seem to be looking right at you. The face and fur are lovely with nice natural colors and fine details. Ever since my trip to Africa I only like to see wild animals in the wild where they belong. Love the natural setting and pose.

Jane

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2693 W: 93 N: 6313] (19888)
  • [2009-01-30 12:19]

Hallo Paul,
Erg mooie foto in uitstekende scherpte en natuurlijke kleuren. Maar die ogen... zo helder en schitterend van kleur. Daar verdrink je bijna in. Prachtige achtergrond en compositie.
Goed weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3120 W: 34 N: 9199] (34122)
  • [2009-01-30 12:23]

Hi Paul. Yes its a beautiful picture of the Leopard . Who has its eyes on you. You say a youngster but it looks fairly big with large feet already. Good detail and colours. Well done TFS.
Nick.. \Have a good weekend.

hallo Paul,

Zo mooie foto van de luipaard.
mooie pov en prachtige kleuren.
mooie reis geweest zeker/

Gert

Hi Paul,
A nice capture of this beautiful leopard. Very good details and a nice composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

What can I say, Paul! This shot needs no words, it goes in right where it belongs... m favs!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2009-01-31 9:55]

Hoi Paul ,Fantastic portret foto prachtige ogen details en kleuren , goed weekend teunie .

Hi Paul

The focus right in the eyes os the lepard bacame great, a nice POV as well.

Best regards

Murilo

A beautiful shot of this gorgeous leopard. He is very magnificent and a little lighter in color than usual...which makes him quite unique and gorgeous. Very nicely done.

hello Paul

beautiful portrait photography of the Leopard,
shot with fine POV, beautiful pose and proud glance
of the Leopard with excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

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