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Open up and say Ahhhhhh


Open up and say Ahhhhhh
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Turvey (liquidsunshine) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2049 W: 113 N: 3422] (11474)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-05
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-03-22 12:34
Viewed: 1448
Points: 53
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another return to the Snow Leopard Archive. From the endangered leopard breeding project in Hertfordshire.

Facts about the SNOW LEOPARD
Status: Endangered
Description: Soft grey coat, white on belly. Head and limbs are marked with solid black or brown spots; body is covered with brown blotches ringed with black, and a black streak runs down the back. Tail is heavy with fur and the bottom of the paws are covered with fur -- for protection against snow and cold. The winter coat is lighter in color.
Size: Head and body length is 47-59 inches, while the tail is 31-39 inches long.
Habitat: Mountain steppes and coniferous (pine/evergreen) forest scrub at high altitudes (5900-18000 feet). Prefer mountain regions in the winter, moving to meadows and rocky areas during the summer months.
Range: The high mountains of Central Asia, specifically the Himalayas, Altai and Hindu Kush. Jammu & Kashmir is situated in the central region of the Snow Leopard range. Snow leopards have a broad home range covering about 100 square miles because of the lack of abundant prey.
Food Source: The snow leopard's prey include wild sheep (such as Bharal, the blue sheep), wild boar, gazelles, hares, markhor, bobak, tahr, marmots, mice and deer. They stalk their prey and usually spring from a distance of 20 to 50 feet.
Behavior: Solitary creatures, only pairing during the breeding season. They do not roar. Snow leaopards are considered nocturnal, but seem to be most active in the early morning and late afternoon. They den in rocky caverns and crevices.
Reproduction: Breeding season is usually January-May, with gestation lasting 98-103 days. A female will give birth to one to four young in the spring in a rocky shelter lined with her fur. The young open their eyes at 7-9 days, eat solid food at 2 months and follow their mother on hunts at three months. Cubs remain with the mother through their first winter.
Population: Extremely rare in most of their range due to the demand for skins. Although trade in snow leopard furs is illegal, it continues, threatening the snow leopard's existence. An estimated 3,000-10,000 are left in the wild, and about 370 are in captivity.
Longevity: Snow leopards have lived up to 15 years in captivity.
Survival Threats: Poaching for the fur trade, loss of habitat caused by deforestation and dam projects, and loss of food sources caused by similar environmental pressures.
Legal Protection: CITES, Appendix I, Endangered Species Act.
Conservation: Habitat protection, captive breeding, stiff penalties for poachers and international buyers of illegal furs, and public education.

Notes from www.kewa.org

Thanks for looking, enjoy the rest of the week.
Fisher, thistle, aido, Paulosousa, marhowie, Janice, jeanpaul, AndyB, red45, Dando, SkyF, scottevers7, coasties, wallhalla15, dew77, PDP, zeca, sranjan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To aido: leopard projectliquidsunshine 1 03-22 17:15
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2167 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2006-03-22 12:48]

very nice shot Alan,
almost perfect I only mis the eyecontact, farther great job good quality photo,
gr. jaap

Nicely presented, though I find it a little off putting to have the log in the background in line with the cat's mouth. Difficult lighting conditions too...

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-03-22 14:26]

Hi Alan,

Beautiful capture and well done on the composition.

Miles does have a point about the log. That was my first thought. You know, going beyond that, it's not that bad. Keep in mind not only your subject, the background is just as important.

Mike

Hello Alan,
Lovely to see a post from you again :)
You've captured him in a perfect pose, pity that you burned him a little ;)
As for the BG I didn't notice the log until I read about it in Miles critique. Now it seem to be a little bit distracting but that's nothing serious.
Overall, very sweet and lovely post.
Have a great rest of the week my friend!

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1221] (4048)
  • [2006-03-22 16:00]
  • [+]

Hi Alan,
Half-time, just enough time to make a cup of tea and write this critique :-) A difficult exposure with that strong backlight but I think you've managed well, a little burn on the edges but excellent exposure elsewhere. Good natural colours, the log (sorry!) is a bit distracting, but other than that I really like it, she seems quite unaware of you. Does the Endangered Leopard Breeding Project have a website and is it open to the public? I've never heard of it before.
Cheers,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 870 W: 2 N: 606] (2034)
  • [2006-03-22 16:23]

Hello Alan ,What a geeuw , very good portret ,good details
colours pov and dof ,good job ,Greetings Teunie .

Great shot Alan and good composition.
Like the colors and the POV.
TFS!!!
Regards
JC

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3410 W: 144 N: 5798] (17183)
  • [2006-03-22 18:26]

Miaow!!
I love my little kitty, her coat is so warm.
And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm
I won't pull her tail, or drive her away
And kitty and I very gently will play.
by Mother Goose

Bonjour Alan
Une merveilleuse photo que ce Joli Léopard des neiges, il a l'air très fatigué.Très belle composition, les couleurs et le cadrage et les détails sont tous très bons.Bravo et merci...JP

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2006-03-22 19:17]

Hello Alan,
A very nice capture.
It looks like the light was quite strong but you've handled that very well.
I dont mind the background its well blurred and doesnt detract.
A good portrait of this beautiful animal.
TFS

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1549 W: 0 N: 1158] (6414)
  • [2006-03-22 20:19]

Hi Alan,
Very nice shot!
Great POV and DOF, excellent detail,
nice natural colour and well composition.
Thanks for sharing!

hi alan
ce leopard a l'air bien tranquille, ce doit etre l'heure de la sieste!
photo tres reussi,details de l'animal et bon DOF.
laurent

Hi Alan,
lovely moment, very nice to see him from the side with the big open mouth. A beautiful animal with the blond hair, thanks for sharing
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Alan!
It is heartening to note Hertfordshire has a project to keep the snow leopard alive. I feel very happy about it because of a personal experience!
In my younger days, I was witness to the death of a snow leopard through torture. It happened in my native place Himachal Pradesh, a sub-Himalayan mountain state next to Jammu and Kashmir. The animal was trapped; its capture was announced in the community; a day was fixed for its public execution. I was there. The scene still haunts me.
Fine portrait of this graceful creature you have shown us here. Thanks.
Ram

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2805 W: 75 N: 7845] (26275)
  • [2006-03-23 4:28]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaalan, hi ;-)
As always your cats portraits are great. Some action, some beauty. Good light and details. I like its pink tongue ;-)

By the way - I'm reading interesting book - 'Glue' by Irvine Welsh - good story about Scottish football fans.

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-03-23 5:44]

Hi Alan nice shot with good colour and detail. Well captured and TFS.
Dean.

Hello Alan,
Difficult light, but you pulled it off well.
Sharp details and nice colors. Well composed. Good job with the BG blur also. Well done.

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-03-23 7:46]

Hello Alan,
great shot, wonderful pose. Great colors and sharp details. Good job on the b/g, nice composition.
TFS...Sky

Hi Alan,
A very good portrait shot on this Snow Leopard. Great timing to get the shot in full yawn. Very nice sharp detail!
Looks good to me. Gotta revisit for pts.
SCott

Hi Alan

Well done on a great shot. Everything here looks technically good. You have composed it well, with good light and saturation of colours. DoF is superb. A valuable contribution to the site. :-)

Hello Alan,
pose is excellent, great work. Very good sharpness, details, colours and composition. Thanks for sharing.
Gr.
Heinz

Hi Alan,

Nice shot of this beautiful snow leopard, this is a nice action shot of it yawning. Only small nit is the highlights, tree log thing doesn't really bother me. :)

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-03-24 9:03]

Hello Alan!
Very nice capture.POV,details,colors,sharpness,lighting,
framing and composition are wonderful.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • TPAKT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 124 W: 22 N: 18] (79)
  • [2006-03-24 10:26]

Privet Alan.
To remove this objective already a feat - very much it heavy. An excellent portrait of the snow leopard with canines. A composition and emotions of an animal are very interesting.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11751)
  • [2006-03-24 15:13]

Hi Alan, nive shot. I like the pose alot. The composition is very nice too. The only nit I have is the log that appears from his mouth, it's a minor point. Well done.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2006-03-25 14:34]

Hi Alan,

Good pose, great POV and well composed. I think the white spots (on top of the nose f.e.) are a little overexposed, but nothing serious. I do agree with Miles on the distracting log in the bg. You can't change everything though, I understand that. Details are sharp. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  •      
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1292 W: 104 N: 4592] (20421)
  • [2006-03-25 15:04]

Good capture Alan, very nice animal. Good pose and attitude. Sharp and clear. thanks.

Mario

sorry no more :-)

Great exposure and title on this capture. I always don't know what to do with these shots- You found a great use of it. Very original and very cute! Good detail in the coat and nicely blurred bg. Thanks have a good weekend!
Nichole

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 370 W: 14 N: 530] (2795)
  • [2006-05-25 12:55]

Nice timing, Alan! Focus is perfect as always, showing pretty sharp image! Nice POV and colours! TFS!
abraços,
Zeca

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