<< Previous Next >>

Home Alone


Home Alone
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): Great cats - Grandes felinos, African Felines, Felidae of the world: Second series, Selen's Favorites [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2004-09-16 13:47
Viewed: 5303
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My name is Cutie, I’m so sweet
And much obliged that we can meet
My Mom’s a leopard fierce & brave
She stashed me here where I am safe

I’m resting here below the trees
On the riverbank in the fresh breeze
Strange the apparition in front of me
I think it’s called “Paparazzi”

Let me just stop right here! This is where the story of Cutie started, not with the kill in the previous post. I promised last year that I would post more of her on TE, so I will try to convey some of the magic of Africa & its denizens to you. Seeing a leopard is not rare, it is just normally so quick & fleeting that the sighting is past even before you have realised what you have seen. A ten-day trip in Kruger National Park may allow one sighting of this elusive cat, on another day, we encountered 5 leopards on a day visit. Needless to say, our next seven trips to KNP did not render a single cat! Talk about using-up one’s luck. So yes, you do see leopards, sometimes. This was the first time in my life that I have seen a baby leopard. This is one small bundle of spitting, vicious aggression, with 5 of its six ends ending in something sharp, as Calvin said of Hobbes. They look cute, but they will rip your arms to pieces with their small claws. Just think of your common or garden variety of Tom or Tabby, & the damage their claws can inflict! SO cute, yes, beautiful, definitely, but back off, this is no fragile kitten.
Sabi Sands is a large conservation area next to KNP. It consists of several farms with different owners. All bounbary fences between the properties & KNP are removed, so the animals move freely throughout the area. Several Lodges are run by the owners or their managers, & game-viewing is very much the vogue.

For the record – you do not see wild animals in our streets, cities etc. The wildest things in our cities are the taxis! And I would rather take my chance with the leopard than with the taxi-driver in his ”the road is mine” attitude! So, do not think you can come to SA & the lions will wait with bated breath at the airport. Neither will you see the springbuck, our national antelope, unless you go to the Karoo farms. Game is mostly restricted to nature reserves and farms, and then only some farms. Predators like lion, and leopard has been eradicated fro most areas, and these are only seem in nature reserves or where people run breeding programmes. Thus, your chance of actually coming to KNP and seeing a spotted cat is only 50%.

More later. Look carefully at her fur, how it blends into the environment. We have just spotted her here. Shooting info for all pictures in this series are as per the first post.
extramundi, PDP, RAP, Robbrown, gerhardt, milloup, Signal-Womb, Jax, carper, TAZ, japie, AndyB, jhm, Lourens, IanSewell 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
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

With this pics, you realize why they are considered one of the most beautiful animals in the world. The note is lovely, very original the beginnign in 1st person. I liked it.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-09-16 14:22]

She's gorgeous and her eyes bring her out of the frame, beautiful subdued lighting and colour. This is my favourite of yours so far, and all your pictures are of exeptional quality but this one does it for me.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-09-16 14:29]

Otra bonita captura de este felino Callie.
La composicion es buena, tal vez podrías descentrar algo al animal.
Bellos colores y buen foco sobre la cabeza.

Another pretty capture of this feline Callie.
The composition is good, Perhaps you could put off center something to the animal.
Beautiful colors and good focus on the head.

Very nice to see her in a no less cute a pose. Any more blended into the background and all we would see is a pair of eye's. Very nice Callie

I can see why you named it Cutie. Very rich colours in this composition. Also the details are very, very sharp. Nice note Callie. Thanx for sharing.

The intensive eyes of Cutie ;-) In the thumbnail you have to look hard to spot her, but this just goes to show how well they blend into the environment. Focus, sharpness and colours spot on.

Beautiful capture Callie. I love it.

  • Great 
  • Jax Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 77 W: 0 N: 150] (500)
  • [2004-09-16 17:37]

Awww she's so sweet and well camouflaged! Her eyes are amazing it's a lovely composition with natural colours.

schitterende foto Callie,
Door zijn camouflage zie je hem bijna niet zitten maar de scherpte van de compositie verraad hem. Prachtige kleuren en een uitekende note.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2004-09-17 1:46]

Une belle capture photgraphique de ce magnifique félin ! Il a de beaux yeux ;-)
Well done !

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-09-17 4:27]

You should have been a poet. You may call her cuty, but her eyes already have that menacing look that can spell serious trouble for prey. This is a stunning shot and my only problem with it is that it's not mine! Baie dankie en lekker skiet vanmiddag. Groetnis

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1366 W: 32 N: 1351] (3982)
  • [2004-09-17 4:59]

A very nice shot,beautiful colours and detail.
A real cutie indeed but I wouldnt tickle her tummy!
Excellent work and note,very well done.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 893 W: 0 N: 507] (1853)
  • [2004-09-17 14:09]

Callie, deze is schitterend, de naam fijn gevonden, de oren en de ogen zijn zeer aandachtig, mooi dier en prachtig in beeld gebracht, excellente kleuren. Groot nota ook. I like this!

Wel, Callie, wat kan ek se - very nice image!! As I have said before, i have never had the good fortune or oppertunity to photograph these beautifull creatures in their natural surroundings. Very well done!!

Aaahh, what a cute one....nice beast, nice picture !

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF