Leopard Portrait
Leopard’s are second largest predator in these forest. They are more effective then the tiger because of its light weight which makes it more agile and gives the cat the ability to climb trees. They are also more adaptive to varying terrain and availability of prey (which is why you find them even in Mumbai). They are found like this on top of trees as it gives the leopard a chance to escape the other predators like the tiger and the wild dogs.
( Click on the image for larger version )
Wildlife photographers are always greedy. No matter how good shot you have, you always wish you had shot it at a diff setting, or you wish the light was better etc. Even in my case, thought I was quite happy with my last leopard picture, I was not so happy with the light that evening, because of which the picture was not so crisp.
Last week, I saw this leopard early in the evening (around 5pm) on a tree which was about less then 10m away from me. Luckily I was on an elevation, which gave me this nice eye-level shot of the cat. The sun was behind the leopard, but since the sunlight was not directly falling on it, the lighting was perfect too. The leopard decided to ignore us for few min and sat on the branch looking at us, which gave me enough time to change my lens, remove the filters etc. When I took this shot, the leopard (which was getting annoyed with all the camera click-click noise), got up, gave me this ‘Buzz Off’ look and jumped off the tree and ran into the thick forest. Another close encounter with this lovely cat, and yeah I got that ‘perfect’ National geographic style shot. There is already a big line of people who want to buy this picture.
I hope to catch a tiger this week, not directly, but with a camera trap. More about it later.
DUDE what a shot. I would do anything to get a shot like that.
~ Jade ~
It’s not just the light, the cat is a beautiful specimen of that species in it’s prime age. It’s just like every small detail is perfect.
the photograph is just too good 🙂
awesome
have been following your journal for the last few entries. Great to see you enjoying your dream!
Ajju
Absoloutely lovely photograph!!
Beautiful!
Fantastic composition!
Very crisp and nice composition. Definetely much better than the previous leopard pic.
awesome!
Stunning
What lens did you use kallu?
Oh and it goes without saying…superb shot!!
His new baby – Nikon 70-200 f/2.8D ED AFS VR!
Ok. Burnt a hole in the pocket I guess :p
Congrats on the acquisition and a great shot.
Wow!
Wow! What a shot! Absolutely gorgeous! 🙂
All the models in bikinis on cruise would look boring compared to this shot. You proved that not going for that assignment was the right decision.
Looking forward to more exciting shots!
JD
gorgeous!!
I was busy admiring your pikchur instead of working….and now you’ve got a 13 member fan club at hp!!!
wat a killer shot! almost like the cat’s gonna pounce out of the picture n e moment now! :O
http://www.bythom.com/70200VRlens.htm this one 🙂
this made my day … leopards are my favorite creatures :))
Great shot. Thought it was going to pounce on you (before I read the post).
Woo hoo! Lovely!
Meow!
A purrfect 10!
wow!
he looks terribly handsome.. good shot..!
Re: wow!
oops! that’s me at http://adrenalinrush.blogspot.com/
🙂
been reading ur blog for a while now.. u seem to be one of those rare people who actually have taken time off to pursue their dreams.. not-so-rare people simply dream, and the rest dont even do that..
keep the cameras rolling.. what they capture is simply fabulous..!
– chikuado
Wow
Wow!
totally awesome 🙂
lovely pic!!! Its time you got urself a pro telephoto, ur talent demands one
how close were you to that leopard??!!
and you say you saw one just 10 meters away from you!! :O
be careful sir.
gr8 shot dude….
I’m waiting for one of those cats to try and eat you. 🙂
Amazing pic.
Dude, hats off to your photography skills. I first thought it was a scan from “national geographic”, till i read the small copyright on the image. Keep up the good work!!
ooops
sexy!!! 🙂
Don’t finish off all the leopards!
Nice shot boss! Was this at the full 200mm or some intermediate focal length?
You seem to be getting plenty of leopard sightings, please keep some for me 😛
Need to visit BRT fast, lest all the leopards disappear because of the law of averages 🙁
– Kartik
Awesome
I love cats and that is one hell of a shot there !!
Nice
Hi kalyan
This is Naveen
We met you in the K.Gudi Guest house , I think we saw same leopard on the rock when we had been for a safari. It is really a nice experience !!!!!!!