Sleeping Leopard, a photo from Mara, West

Photographer's Note

We were on an early morning game drive when the radio chatter announced a leopard sighting. They are shy animals and not easy to see so we rushed off before it disappeared. It was fast asleep up a tree and didn’t look to be going anywhere fast.
It was however quite a way off and this is a very extensive crop. I wasn’t going to post it on TE but I was convinced it was worth a post by several people, who had seen it on my website. I would like to give particular thanks for the help I had with editing this to Stan (scorbert) and Henk (Floydian) Henk gave me some pointers how to improve it, and Stan spent some time on it and sent me his detailed workflow, which I copied fairly closely, going back to the original RAW.
I have put the original uncropped version in the WS

ISO200, FL300mm with extensive crop, so probably more like 800mm,

sevy, dareco, Gerrit, JCG, avishek_khan, cbrman, pasternak, Tobias__Ortmann, flory, Floydian, Dyerco, scobert, jwmunro, Photo65Net, Wandering_Dan, Cricri, josepmarin, Henryk_Bilor, xuaxo, Graal, carper, John_F_Kennedy, fabio_ts, kiwi_explorer, ChrisJ, jusninasirun, Philippe, stego, Tue, chrisnet, ruisc_pt, axiotea, noborders, Didi, plimrn, mskuba, cobbydale, Emile heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

sevy (58) 2008-04-13 0:35

Hello Kath,

Yes, you can thanks Stan and Henk who are always of good advises. I am impressed to see what you succeeded to reach with this post regarding the original picture which is also interesting showing the environment.
I am also a little jealous because I never succeeded up to now to see a leopard during my trips in Africa. It will be a justification to go back :-)

Yves.

smarcell (19965) 2008-04-13 0:45

Lepoards are great animals, and when they sleep this way are very special.
I thought it was impossible for a tourist to catch such an image.
Regards Stefano

dareco (17136) 2008-04-13 0:46

I don't think you could have gotten a cuter pose! :) The original is really great too, but you did a great job on this. TFS

Gerrit (62042) 2008-04-13 0:55

Hi Kath,
excellent capture of this lazy sunday afternoon pose.
You really saw and captured them all.
I like the relaxation of the cat, letting his paws hang down.
Regards, Gerrit

JCG (35153) 2008-04-13 1:21

Hi Kath,

It is the big nap !!! It has to make to beanfeast this leopard before I think… Beautiful tight sight on the amusing attitude of the animal. It would be said that nothing could disturb it but I know that it is not true.

With all my friendships and very good Sunday,

Jean-Charles.

corniste (4280) 2008-04-13 1:32

Hello Kath,

Well this one was pretty exausted! Very good POV! Never seen a thing like this before!

have a great Sunday!

Valerka (8171) 2008-04-13 1:39

Hi,Kath,
A lovely take and this leopard definitely looks cuter when asleep:)
TFS
Valerka:)

avishek_khan (544) 2008-04-13 2:37

Hi Kath,
This illustrates one of the rarest mood of this royal creature! Viewers must envy your luck! A fantastic snap!
Regards
Avishek

cbrman (21685) 2008-04-13 2:38

Hello Kath,

Excellent ! Ce pacha semble au paradis sur cette branche d'arbre ! Il est complétement détendu et doit faire de très jolis rêves !
Bravo pour la qualité du crop !

A+

Dominique

devimeuxbe (58557) 2008-04-13 2:56

Hi Kath
Ah Ah, excellment capture of this cute cat sleeping.
Is it possible to imagine that it will be so cruel when hungry.
Excellent perspective. Beautifull report
Bertrand

pasternak (15185) 2008-04-13 3:44

I think you did a great job in improving the quality here and of course the subject itself is fantastic, very well spotted!

Cheers
A.

rodgerg (55767) 2008-04-13 3:54

Hello Kath,

Excellent capture. You collected very well the abandonment of the animal in the sleep. But attention when it awakes.
Beste regards,
Roger

tober (8797) 2008-04-13 4:07

Hi Kath, that's an excellent capture from Serengeti. I also saw the Workshop and concluded that how these wonderful animals camouflage themselves in the nature. Realy impressive... Kind regards, Tolga

Tobias__Ortmann (2638) 2008-04-13 5:34

Hi kath,
very good post
great scene nice colours good sharpness but I can see that the leopards was far way wasn´t it?
ON safari we saw just 2 leopards one very far away(about 70 meters) and one very close.
In my next pose you will see it.
Never the less amazing shot
best regards Toba

dvlazar (6662) 2008-04-13 5:47

Hey Kath,
Yes it was worth putting this one in - these animals are beautiful and so hard to photograph due to their elusive nature. While there might be some evidence in the photo of the cropping, its still a great shot of the animal.
Cheers!

Dave

flory (4848) 2008-04-13 6:21

hi Kath,
love it,love it,love it!!!and well improved comparatively with the original..:)
nice Sunday,
Flori:)

Floydian (30970) 2008-04-13 6:52

Hello Kath,
You know what...i like the ws version even more ;-)
No serious, you did a very good job here, it looks very natural and i would love to have such a shot in my gallery, but this is the first time i see the whole image and i like that one very much.
A 600m/m (or 300 with 2 x extender) seems the right way to go, means i need more room for my gear, but seeing the heavy crop it's useful to bring all.
Very good pp work here, you did very good on this one.
Regards, Henk

[2] +

Dyerco (10185) 2008-04-13 7:10

Hi Kath
Well your PP paid off. You extracted a wonderful close up from the original. The quality is excellent. I have a cat that always has bits hanging off. It amazes me how they sleep so precariously.
Phil

lopshang (724) 2008-04-13 7:34

Hi Kath

Another beautifully captured moment. Yeah the leopard sure looking tired. Those texture of bark and the spotted skin really going well with the picture. People are right it is worth posting .

Regards,

Lopshang.

scobert (5355) 2008-04-13 8:17

Hi Kath,
This looks absolutely fantastic! This is a marvelous safari photograph and you were so fortunate to see a leopard in the daytime. From eveything that I have heard, leopards among the most secretive and elusive African animals and are mostly nocturnal. I am sure that he/she is sleeping of his/her latest hard earned meal safely perched in ths tree away from the manacing lions and hyenas. Leopards and Jaguars are my very favorite animals. Your original photo has tremendous potential as a large print and would look magnificent as a 16x24" or larger print matted and framed. You are a great photographer!
Stan

[2]

jwmunro (286) 2008-04-13 8:24

Hello Kath -

It is hard to say which one I like best as both have their merits. This image gives us the detail and focuses on the animal while the WS gives us the locale and the geography. It is a funny image as the animal's legs are just hanging loose and it is supported only by the branch and sound asleep and to hell with the tourists. Both are well done and difficult to separate.

Thank you for sharing.

John

Photo65Net (43144) 2008-04-13 8:31

Kath,
Great catch !
You got graphics and beautiful life scene... Great job here.
Regards,
JB.

gneufeld (15890) 2008-04-13 8:47

Hi Kath,
This is just too funny - amazing how these animals fine their favorite place to rest! Love the porspective and while I also like the original version, you did an extremely good job of doing a very drastic crop with sucess. Well done and TFs. Gerald

Wandering_Dan (3449) 2008-04-13 9:41

Kath, this is simply ASTONISHING! I know from my own experience how hard it is to get even a glimpse of a leopard; that you were able to get the full body in full relaxation like this is nothing short of amazing, and well makes up for the technical flaws.

I tried a bit of WS to see what I could do with it, but the small amount of heightened color I got out of it didn't seem worth posting. I think you and your advisers have done about as much as can be done, and it was a good job.

And he reminds me of one of my cats, who loves to rest with his paws hanging over the edge of things. Now I know where he gets it from!

Best,
Dan

crckt (7222) 2008-04-13 9:51

Hi Kath,
WOW! This can't get any better. After all master photographers were at work here :) Wonderful, wonderful shot! I love it..
TFS,
Shaeri

Cricri (176) 2008-04-13 9:56

Hi Kath,
Un sourire en voyant ce léopard a l'aise sur la branche épaisse de l'arbre, un cadrage sérré et bien réaliser permet encore mieux d'apréçier la scéne, beau travail et conseil des amis
Have a nice evening
cricri

josepmarin (59385) 2008-04-13 11:44

Hello Kath,
You have obtained very good quality of image in spite of focal so long, and could have caught a very nice and funny scene, with this leopard sleeping in the branch of the tree, in an a bit inconvinient position but that does not seem to matter for him.
I like it, this series of your trip through Africa is offering us a few beautiful images of a wild life that we must preserve.
Best wishes,
Josep

gilou530 (34) 2008-04-13 12:44

salut kath
excellente cette photo, il règne un calme serein a voir la position de ce léopard dans son arbre, un cadrage parfait avec une superbe netteté, beau travail

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2008-04-13 13:35

Hi Kath
I didn`t put for a long time any image to my favourite, but in this case I can`t resist ;). Sleeping cats are great and this is amazing example. Sweet creature. Excellent quality:)
Miaouu...;)

jasmis (58653) 2008-04-13 14:01

Superb photo of amazing animal. Really extraordinary view.
Regards.

pboehringer (770) 2008-04-13 15:11

Kath,
simpoly fantastitc. A shot that anyone of us would love to have on its website and portfolio. I was once in the late 70's in South Africa and did some days in the Kruger Park. Everyone one was on its own and it was purely coincidence to see animals or not. I ended up seeing some Cheetahs, but by far not this most spetacular image. Interesting that they have radio chatter to focus people on such sights. I wonder how the first person got to see this lazy cat up there.
The WS as well as the feature presentation are something that I'm used to see in films or National Geographic. The team work between you, Stan and Henk ended up with a stellar presentation.
Peter

xuaxo (6854) 2008-04-13 15:21

Hello Kath,
It's very sweet view of the big cat.
The work of postprocessing is very good, but I like also very much (maybe even more) the original, with all that mix of tree branches with the leopard on them.
F

coco (30439) 2008-04-13 17:18

Hi Kath.

This time I must say I love the WS... I think is much better than the main post. It's rich and plenty of details.

Also I like the main photo... but I prefer the other one.

Regards.

sahara82 (80) 2008-04-13 21:23

awwww... this is very cute! i love how they act just like domestic cats do. nice colours too.

Graal (103040) 2008-04-13 23:10

Hi Kath,
funny view, good shot and another african image with the wild life of animals. Well cropped from photo in WS. Your website is great. I like it, fantastic safari You had.
Gr., Aleksander

vincz (19113) 2008-04-13 23:25

Wow... what a posture! That's aht one can call resting. I like how this animal really mix with the tree. Great DOF.

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2008-04-14 0:05

Composition and colours are perfect. You have captured the relaxing pose very well with excellent details.
Best wishes,
Achim

PixelTerror (0) 2008-04-14 0:45

Hi K*th,
Ah another c*t of yours, there is quite a difference here between the original version and that "improved" one with the help of our digital wizards, that's true that to post on TE you only need a few of all these pixels. The result is very good now, the attitude is funny and appeals a lot to the lazy part in me, DoF and exposure are fine.
Have a nice sunday JY

fabio_ts (13696) 2008-04-14 0:45

So "cute" (if a adult leopard can be cute... :o)...)
a perfect wildw-life picture Kath, I love it!!

ciao,
Fabio.

carper (96) 2008-04-14 2:01

another fine one kath,
you made a fantastic serie in Africa, good zoom here, fine details and a great quality in this wild shot, marvelous photojob, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

sacavem (18620) 2008-04-14 2:32

Olá Kath,

Great capture!Wonderful leopard to rest.Good work to capture this image. Good color and contrast.
Well done.
Best wishes,
Filipe

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2008-04-14 2:36

Hi Kath,
Superb capture! First time I've seen a leopard photographed like this ... original POV. Excellent work ... just wonderful to look at! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

ChrisJ (172372) 2008-04-14 6:32

Hi Kath

Just hanging around, eh? A superb wildlife shot of the sleeping leopard. The image is a bit spotty. (Joke.) Tfs!

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-04-14 8:03

Hello Kath. This is so loose and relaxing for this cat. Excellent shot in the wild - a place to chill out. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

Waylim (25436) 2008-04-14 9:55

Kath,
After seeing tobias image, this one looks so relaxing, I just take a deep breath and slowdown. Great image with a nice moment. Perfect sharpness and clarity. Love the colors, very well balanced and constrate. Great one. Thanks.
Way

guillaumejm (0) 2008-04-14 12:50

hello kath
Sure it was worth posting it. Perhaps the sky could have been a little darker, but anyway, the attitude of the animal is great. we can feel that he is not stressed!.
Kind regards
JMarc

Philippe (11836) 2008-04-14 13:22

Hi, Kath. A very nice kitten you've captured here. Considering it's a crop, the result is really amazing. The sharpness on the animal is surprisingly good. The guy is sound asleep and seems to feel comfortable. The branches form a series of lines that all converge towards the leopard and make it the centre of our attention. I've always dreamt of a nap in a tree, but I think four paws make it a lot easier.

[2]

Paolo (41258) 2008-04-15 7:46

This is so similar to a Tigger puppet (the mate of Winnie Pooh) that is one of the favorite of my son!
When the puppet is on the bed, or on the floor it have the same attitude of this fantastic sleeping leopard!
a great funny portrait, a real deep sleeper!!!
thansk, ciao

berek (50518) 2008-04-15 10:09

Hi Kath,
this one is great. i just say congratulations. have a nice day.
Burak Erek

stego (24132) 2008-04-15 16:03

Hi Kath,
It's so cute and tender!... And amazingly sharp and nicely composed!
On the WS we can't appreciate so well the animal and its funny pose, but it's also a fabulous photo, you did a splendid job with the compo and DOF.
Regards, José.

Angshu (56760) 2008-04-16 21:09

Hi Kath
Don't recall ever seeing a picture of a leopard sleeping like this, until I saw this in your website. In fact I did like the original version, maybe the leopard was a little lost amidst the tree branches...but still. But I never could have imagined that a radical crop like this would work so well. But if I were to take a print, I will choose the original uncropped version. Fantastic!
Best Regards
Angshu

Tue (93296) 2008-04-17 2:14

Hi Kath,
I had missed this one, wonderful photo of this leopard! I can't imagine this is a comfortable way of sleeping, but this leopard really seems to have a good time. :-) Good quality too despite the extensive crop. Thanks a lot for sharing this great picture!
Regards,
Lars

IgorDeleze (585) 2008-04-17 2:17

Hello Kath,
WOW ! Lovely picture.
Fantastic shot.
Greetings.
Igor

chrisnet (23062) 2008-04-17 9:30

Hello Kath,
Je vois que tu excelles dans la photo animalière, j'aime beaucoup la position dans l'arbre de ce léopard endormi. J'ai rédigé cette critique en français car il faut que tu apprennes la langue de Molière chère Kath!
With all my friendships!

pablominto (53746) 2008-04-17 9:55

Hello Kath,
Looks like very relaxing to me!
Impressive scene is well captured, personally I think the image looks good also in a bit wider crop...
However the definition can take this tight crop and the details are excellent!
Greetings,
Pablo -

ruisc_pt (11594) 2008-04-17 11:09

Simply great Kath

This image is really impressive and "relaxing" yet guess what?!
I prefer the uncropped version in the WS.. don't ask me why.
All the best
R

Stepan (27210) 2008-04-17 11:30

One of your best animals serie. "He" looks really cool, realy deeply asleep. In a certain way, it's a good idea you didn't wake him up !!
Excellent.
Stéphae

LUISCOSTA (142) 2008-04-17 13:47

Hi Kath!

A very nice kitten you've captured here.Beautiful tight sight on the amusing attitude of the animal.

Excellent! Regards

axiotea (21651) 2008-04-17 23:56

Hello Kath
I love the way the beautiful leopard is fast asleep and how his legs are hanging down ;D very relax posture and it looks like nothing can disturbs 'him'!
Cheers
Marilyn

noborders (1010) 2008-04-18 23:36

Your photos "out of Africa" are amazing, Kath ! This one is specially striking, I'll add it to my 2nd favorites, bravo !!!
Best regards,
Cath.

Didi (61589) 2008-04-19 3:05

Hi Jane ... sorry Kath :)
Very interesting sleeping position, I think you wre not very far from the animal with your 300 mm lens.
Very good original catch.
Well done.
Cheers.

lasscor (7640) 2008-04-20 1:05

Hi Kath,
Wonderful scene.
Wonderful sleeping leopard and relaxing position.
TFS,
Corinne

plimrn (21344) 2008-04-20 13:07

Hi Kath,
You really did get to see it all!! That cat is RELAXED!! Your photo had to be pin-sharp to stand up under such an extensive crop, thanks for posting the original in the WS. I clearly prefer the PP; such a magniuficent animal deserves to be show-cased!!

My Mom had a MRSA infection. In older people, the primary symptom of any infection is confusion. She would babble non-stop for 36 hours and then collapse for 3 days and then do it all over again so I just couldn't organize myself to post. Thankfully she seems to have made a comeback so Larry and I are running off to Oregon for 10 days or so...
Our last trip Oregon was aborted when she had a seizure.

HLJ, Pat

mskuba (204) 2008-04-20 13:30

Hi Kath,

At first I had to look for my jaw somewhere on the floor, and now my stomach hurts because of laugh ;-)
Amazing photo!
Saying anything more is pointless ;-)
BR
Kuba

cobbydale (1958) 2008-04-21 11:23

Excellent work to carve this crop out of the bigger picture and still maintain such good resolution. I do like the original too as it shows the leopard in context with his surroundings and makes him look even more bizarre perched up on that branch - though I guess you would have had problems with the background light if you'd posted it as a main shot. Nice work Kath.
cheers
Leon

mortijo (12828) 2008-04-29 5:19

HeloKath,
You did an excellent job on this sleeping cat! The photo deserved a posting on TE The origina, in the WS, would render very well on an A3 format and framed.
Regards
John

Emile (20352) 2008-05-14 16:22

Hola Kath.
You did a good work with this shot, when we see the original one and then look this version it looks like they are to different photos, you most be very glad that your trip to Africa was a complete success and thank to you we are enjoying all your superb shots.
Well done. TFS.
Cheers.

romanaa (8430) 2008-06-14 14:15

Hello Kath,
this is brilliant and so funny, I like your shot very very much.
The leopard does not look very dangerous here.
Thanks for making me laugh.
Best regards
Romana