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Quintessential Feline


Quintessential Feline
Photo Information
Copyright: Callie de Wet (Callie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2002-05
Categories: Mammals
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): African Felines, Felidae of the world: First series [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-11-27 12:41
Viewed: 6111
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 43
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Have I mentioned that I am partial to felines? I am sure the thought has never crossed your minds – after all, I am a Birder, and cats catch, kill and eat birds!
Nevertheless, there is a certain allure to the sleek, lithe feline form that captivates my imagination and sends the adrenaline rushing through my veins. The leopard is the most successful feline and still holds its own in many parts of SA where the lion has long been extinct. Their weight can vary from just over 30 kg to more than 80 kg, depending on where they are found. Those in the Western Cape seldom top 45 kg, while the ones in KNP can easily top 80 kg. This is one hefty package of killing fury and leopards have the ability to carry three times their own body weight. I have seen pictures of a leopard dragging a zebra up a tree! Their ability to eat almost anything that they can catch, makes them very successful in surviving where other, larger felines won’t. I have also seen video footage of a leopard catching and killing an African Wild Cat – refer to Gerhard’s posts for this particular small cat. Once, we were lucky to observe a female and her two cubs trying to corner a porcupine. I have said on TE that I can remember every leopard sighting we ever had – it is just something that is indelible imprinted on ones brain. They also kill and eat crocodiles and cheetah.
This picture was taken in Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. I have already written about this wonderful reserve, and anyone wishing to experience the Big 5 at close quarters, can mail me. I have a friend who runs Photo Safaris in this reserve at reasonable prices.
This is a young male leopard, staring in typical leopard fashion. We were on the back of the open game vehicle, Nikon F90X, Sigma 50-500 lens, resting on my wife’s shoulder – it works – Sensia 100 slide film scanned on a flatbed scanner, pushed through NI, but I battle and do not know what to really do. Reduced to site size.
ellis49, elihesam, bartove, willie, extramundi, Luc, AdrianW, RAP, gerhardt, PDP, JeanMichel, pmende, saguzar has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Maru: ThanksCallie 2 12-02 20:31
To AdrianW: WSCallie 2 11-28 13:12
To extramundi: WS ThanksCallie 1 11-27 23:56
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Critiques [Translate]

Great picture Calle.
Very colourful BG, good sharpness and composition.
The cat is great and the note too
Maybe some noise in the BG but that's nothing to worry about.
Great Work.

Oh!
Symbol of powerful,strong,hunting,speed,...full of notice to a thing,...in a great way you captured him,nicely done,Callie,skilfully use of DOF,very strong work,well composed and a great cropping you did,Congratulation,Callie.
It's sound of the Africa.

Sincerely
Mohammad

Oh yeah ... A bit too Hollywood (the hand blurred BG and the taxidermic shoulder composition) but its a great, great shot, it can make a nice DVD cover one time !

I just love this shot, the colour is wonderful and the composition superb. The tones of the background is really encharming. I made a workshop to get rid of the brach and sharpen a bit. Hope you like.

Wonderful colour great cropping, vare strong.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-27 15:18]

Once Callie, an excellent piece of work. Great post. Your notes are splendid.

Super catch Callie ! Excellent crop !

  • Great 
  • papkin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 78 W: 0 N: 96] (1580)
  • [2004-11-27 15:28]

Beautiful composition,beautiful cat.

Good shot! The pose and composition are beyond reproach, that said the colour balance looks a bit weird to me (base of the neck looks a little green), also around the neck there appear to be some coloured stripes which don't look to be part of the image - which I'm guessing are scanning artifacts of some kind... Anyway, lovely work as usual - and I'll try and critique some of the others you've posted recently soon :-D

P.S. I've posted a Workshop, which I hope you'll like!

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2004-11-28 0:13]

A quintessential post (picture and note) for a quintessential feline.
Thanks, Callie.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-28 0:53]

Pragtig! I like the poised pose a lot and he is definately interested in something other than you.

Very well done.

Thanks for posting

Callie, this is another splendid one for the collection. Great mug shot. Beautifull BG. Well done.

If I look closely I see two reddish horizontal stripes on the leopard, any ideas?

Great shot, the background looks like painting.
Very well done

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-28 5:24]

Una gran imagen mi amigo... tal vez no es la mejor de tus felinos, pero el retrato lateral de este hermoso animal, con adecuado DOF y encuadre, además de las 2 alternativas que nos ofreces en los Workshops, conforman una excelente presentacion.

A great image my friend... perhaps not be the best of your felines, but the lateral picture of this beautiful animal, with suitable DOF and frame, in addition of the 2 alternative that us offer in the Workshops, conform a excellent presentation.

The all composition is excellent! You have captured well this magnificent wild animal!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-28 17:42]

Simply amazing. Well done Callie, this one has real strength to it. The backdrop looks like a painting. Super.

Unique framing, Callie. The perfect profile where only the ears give an idea of the depth is very original. It draws the attention exclusively on the sharp fixed gaze of this beautiful cat. As usual, your note brings us there also.

Hi Callie,
This is a beautiful photo. The background, the cat's expression, the composition, it's all really captivating. Thank you for inspiring me!

  • Great 
  • Maru Silver Star Critiquer [C: 18 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2004-12-01 6:57]
  • [+]

Wow, just unbealiveable!! The leopard position -just waitng for the right moment- and the background colours made a perfect composition. I found myself also moving right ahead to the monitor ;)

Callie, I love your pictures. They are truly beautiful and inspirational. Thank you for sharing your talent.

great capture!! I really like the composition :)

hello Callie,
I love this pic, has very nice colours and a good leopard pose. Maybe It needs a little workshop.
Regards
Hernán

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