Snow Leopard

© Dale Hardin

Snow Leopard

Uploaded: December 21, 2013 20:59:00

Description

Shutter Speed: 1/400.00 F-stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 200.00

Exif: F Number: 5.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.30, ExposureTime: 1/400 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 1000, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 200.00 mm, Model: SLT-A77V

Comments

Laura L. Gonzales level-classic December 21, 2013

So beautiful Dale! Excellent capture! Eyes are so clear. Well done! #1556795

Sherran Andersen level-classic December 21, 2013

Beautiful markings on this leopard. I like the eye contact. #10927238

Stephen Shoff December 21, 2013

Striking! You got a great balance between the colors in the eyes and nearly gray-scale fur and background. #10927247

Rita K. Connell level-classic December 22, 2013

excellent shot Dale. his eyes makes you not to want to stop looking at him. this one is going in my favorites #10927311

Beth Spencer December 22, 2013

I love the EYES!!!!! What a great shot!!! #10927333

Dale Hardin December 22, 2013

Thank you all very much. This was at the zoo and I'd just about given up on getting any decent shots when I found the snow leopard. This was shot through a chain link fence. #10927463

Peter W. Marks December 22, 2013

The thumbnail doesn't do it justice Dale. Then when I opened up the full size image WOW! Better than superb my friend. #10927568

Dale Hardin December 22, 2013

Thanks a lot Peter, and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family. And may your new year be filled with joy. #10927635

Jeff E Jensen December 22, 2013

Nice! #10927728

Dale Hardin December 22, 2013

Thanks Jeff. #10927751

Michelle Alton December 23, 2013

Wonderful portrait! #10927850

Kalena Randall December 23, 2013

Super shot, Dale! Love the eyes! They are mesmerizing! #10928007

Dale Hardin December 23, 2013

Michelle and Kalena, thanks a lot for such kind comments. #10928020

Kristin Duff December 23, 2013

these are my favourite at our zoo too Dale…love how you captured his eyes…they look right thru me! #10928023

Michael Kelly level-deluxe December 23, 2013

Dale, with all the great comments I hesitate to bring this up, but it is about what we see. To me the eyes look very over processed - probably sharpening but perhaps saturation. To me that slightly spoils an otherwise excellent image and portrait of this great looking cat. Because of all the comments I am wondering if something is off on my monitor since everyone else thinks it looks so good. #10928069

Elaine Hessler December 23, 2013

This is beautiful Dale! I love this! Mike-what are you seeing? I don't see anything with the eyes, but maybe some reflections in the irises. Do you see something else? #10928105

Dale Hardin December 23, 2013

Kristin, thank you. This is the first one I've seen. In other zoos they were always hiding.

Mike, I didn't saturate or sharpen the eyes any more than the rest of the image. However, I did de-saturate the rest of the cat a bit because his coat appeared yellow in some areas. Also I dodged and burned the lights and darks of the eyes. After all, I did desire that they were prominent.

Thanks very much Elaine. I think what Mike saw is explained in my comments to him. I took this last year, so will dig around and see if I can find the original. #10928192

Dale Hardin December 23, 2013

Mike, I found the original and must correct my statement. I did increase the vibrancy in raw before making adjustment in PSE. When I de-saturated the image, I of course masked the eyes. Here is the shot straight out of camera except for crop. #10928199

Peter W. Marks December 23, 2013

Dale, I think you will agree I was most fulsome in my praise of this image so if I make a suggestion you will know I am just suggesting an alternative pose of this gorgeous creature NOT a better one. I have tried this on a screen capture and it seems to work but I will not upload it here in case I get the credit for it as I mistakenly did with Beths 'ice ornament' shot and add to my embarrassment! I cropped the bottom off by about one fourth and this brought his eyes almost on the upper third and his head better filled the screen which gave those eyes even greater emphasis.
what do you think old friend? #10928218

Michael Kelly level-deluxe December 23, 2013

Thanks Dale. To me the eyes look much better out of the camera. If you do a flip comparison you can see the difference immediately. No blocked up color and unnatural look to them. I do see the desat to remove the yellow on the rest of the cat which I think was good. Because it is just me I would not worry too much about it, but I still stand by my original comment that the eyes are over processed. I personally think there is a happy medium between out of the camera and the original processed posting. #10928220

Dale Hardin December 23, 2013

Peter and Mike, thanks for the input. I've supplied images to address each suggestion. #10928410

Michael Kelly level-deluxe December 23, 2013

Much better on the eyes - I do like Peters crop suggestion too. #10928422

Susan Williams December 24, 2013

What a beautiful capture, Dale! I love all versions of this gorgeous animal. The eyes are stunning - and probably intended to stun. Fabulous work! #10928470

Dale Hardin December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas Susan and thank you for the nice comment. Glad your computer is up and running. Crashes are always traumatic. #10928752

Joy Rector December 25, 2013

gorgeous #10929208

Dale Hardin December 25, 2013

Thank you Joy and Merry Christmas. #10929236

Wm Nosal January 31, 2014

Beautiful Image Dale!
Congratulations! #10961551

Dale Hardin January 31, 2014

thanks a lot Wm. #10961613

Laura L. Gonzales level-classic January 31, 2014

Yippppeeeee Dale!!! Congratulations on this most beautiful animal and well deserved Finalist!! Good luck in the next round! :) #10961641

Dale Hardin February 01, 2014

Thanks so much, Laura and also thanks for the enthusiasm. :o) #10962189

Beth Spencer February 01, 2014

Congratulations! #10963014

Elaine Hessler February 01, 2014

Gorgeous-congrats Dale!!! #10963036

Kristin Duff February 01, 2014

Congrats Dale! #10963062

Dale Hardin February 01, 2014

Thanks, guys. #10963301

JO ANN CLEVELAND February 02, 2014

Congratulations on this super finalist Dale! I have no idea why these folks you could improve on it!

jo ann c. #10964491

Dale Hardin February 02, 2014

Thanks Jo Ann. We all belong to a photo critique club and exchange ideas on all our images. They've been a great help to me. #10964655

Merna L. Nobile February 15, 2014

A new year, new photos and plenty awards to go around. Congratulations! #10976363

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