Any Thing shot with a 1Dx

[Schultzie]

These were taken at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.


Little Mermaid by SauceyJack, on Flickr


Hot, Humid and Wet by SauceyJack, on Flickr

[eml58]

1Dx 300f/2.8 V2, shot @ f/7.1 & 1/250th.
Mala Mala, Northern South Africa, March 2013

Lovely leopard shots! Could you describe how you took this one?

Spent 2 weeks in Northern South Africa at two Properties, Mala Mala & Londolozi, target of the 2 weeks was just Leopards. We were able toPhotograph 24 Different Leopards over the 2 weeks, in particular my plan was to Photograph Leopards at night with the 600EX RT. The Flash was used on a RRS Bracket, set to maul -2 & for 200mm using the 1Dx on the mentioned settings & the 300f/2.8. The trick here was to use only enough Flash to give some "fill" lighting, while utilising the Spotlight from another vehicle at night to throw just enough light on the Leopard to rim light the animal. Biggest issue was maintaining auto focus although the 1Dx was surprisingly good in this area, as long as Focus was on the area of the head that was lit from the spotlight, impossible to focus on the eye. Processed in LR4 for minor crop, Photoshop for some levels to ensure Blacks even, some sharpening in On One. Hope that helps.

[eml58]

1Dx 300f/2.8 V2 @ f/8 & 1/500th.

Shot early morning Sun rising to the Animals left, Mala Mala Northern South Africa.

[eml58]

1Dx 300f/2.8 V2, Shot @ f/5.6 & 1/250th.

Londolozi, Northern South Africa, they call this Guy "Tyson", he's beaten the crap out of any and all challengers for the past 4 years, Beautiful Animal in a decidedly mean looking way, looking at the ear maybe they should have named him "Evander Holyfield".

[Jan van Holten]

1Dx 300f/2.8 V2, shot @ f/7.1 & 1/250th.
Mala Mala, Northern South Africa, March 2013

Lovely leopard shots! Could you describe how you took this one?

Spent 2 weeks in Northern South Africa at two Properties, Mala Mala & Londolozi, target of the 2 weeks was just Leopards. We were able toPhotograph 24 Different Leopards over the 2 weeks, in particular my plan was to Photograph Leopards at night with the 600EX RT. The Flash was used on a RRS Bracket, set to maul -2 & for 200mm using the 1Dx on the mentioned settings & the 300f/2.8. The trick here was to use only enough Flash to give some "fill" lighting, while utilising the Spotlight from another vehicle at night to throw just enough light on the Leopard to rim light the animal. Biggest issue was maintaining auto focus although the 1Dx was surprisingly good in this area, as long as Focus was on the area of the head that was lit from the spotlight, impossible to focus on the eye. Processed in LR4 for minor crop, Photoshop for some levels to ensure Blacks even, some sharpening in On One. Hope that helps.

That is very very good work and thinking. I call this a masterplan. You can plan something like this, but you get no quarantee. Two weeks with all togheter 24 leopard is also amazing. You' ve got some inside information I guess?

[eml58]

1Dx 300f/2.8 V2, shot @ f/7.1 & 1/250th.
Mala Mala, Northern South Africa, March 2013

Lovely leopard shots! Could you describe how you took this one?

Spent 2 weeks in Northern South Africa at two Properties, Mala Mala & Londolozi, target of the 2 weeks was just Leopards. We were able toPhotograph 24 Different Leopards over the 2 weeks, in particular my plan was to Photograph Leopards at night with the 600EX RT. The Flash was used on a RRS Bracket, set to maul -2 & for 200mm using the 1Dx on the mentioned settings & the 300f/2.8. The trick here was to use only enough Flash to give some "fill" lighting, while utilising the Spotlight from another vehicle at night to throw just enough light on the Leopard to rim light the animal. Biggest issue was maintaining auto focus although the 1Dx was surprisingly good in this area, as long as Focus was on the area of the head that was lit from the spotlight, impossible to focus on the eye. Processed in LR4 for minor crop, Photoshop for some levels to ensure Blacks even, some sharpening in On One. Hope that helps.

That is very very good work and thinking. I call this a masterplan. You can plan something like this, but you get no quarantee. Two weeks with all togheter 24 leopard is also amazing. You' ve got some inside information I guess?

Appreciated, It was amazing & it's great when the plan does come together, mostly, as you say, with Animals like these they generally don't get the Memo, so no guarantees. Yes, I did have expert info, I went with a Pro Photographer from South Africa who planned the trip for me & he specialises in this sort of Flash/Night time Photography, his name is Greg DeToit, you can check his work at gregdetoit.com, amazing Photographer and great guy, heading off to Tanzania with him in June for 3 weeks to shoot the Migration. Leopards are my favourites, Beautiful Animals, Wild Dog, Lion close second & third, Polar Bears in the Arctic not far behind.

1Dx 300f/2.8 V2, shot @ f/5.6 & 1/500th, Mala Mala Northern South Africa.

[eml58]

And when the Leopards weren't performing, which was seldom, spent time Laying on the sand waiting for the Hippos to flick their ears.

1Dx 300f/2.8, shot @ f/8 & 1/2000th, Mala Mala Northern South Africa.

[rpt]

@eml58: Fantastic pictures. Do keep posting.

[eml58]

Baby Rhino: 1Dx 400f/2.8 V2 @ f4 & 1/320th
Leopard looking Up: 1Dx 300f/2.8 V2 @ f/7.1 & 1/640th
Leopard Cub: 1Dx 300f/2.8 V2 @ f/11 & 1/125th

All shot at Londolozi & Mala March 2013, the Leopard shot was one I had hoped to get the chance to shoot, a Leopard at night peering up the trunk of the tree just prior to taking the keep, trying to shoot through the ball of the eye, didn't work as well as I'de hoped but Ok just the same.

The Leopard Cub was one of a Pair, Male & Female around 8 to 10 weeks old (this was the Male), only the second time in 8 years I've been fortunate enough to see Young Cub Leopards still with Blue eyes, they start to change to yellow at around 12 weeks. The Mother was moving the pair to a new Den and although the Cubs had no fear, and in fact were inquisitive, the Mother was extremely touchy during the Transfer so we needed to keep some distance.

The young Rhino was a huge laugh, he would creep up to within 10 metres of the vehicle through the tall grass, suddenly see the vehicle then run like hell back to his Mum, did this time and again, very funny little guy.

[eml58]

1Dx 600f/4 V2, shot @ f/8 & 1/250th
Londolozi Northern South Africa, Young Leopard Cub with his Mother but still shy of the vehicle.

[eml58]

1Dx 400f/2.8 V2, shot f/2.8 & 1/1600th

Have to admit this Guy made me uncomfortable, he seemed to be eyeing me up for a Dinner Option.

[East Wind Photography]

These are great shots but even after looking at the full JPG, they all seem to be over sharpened to me...more so after the web downsizing.  Did you sharpen these or is this just an affect of compression uploading to the forums?

1Dx 400f/2.8 V2, shot f/2.8 & 1/1600th

Have to admit this Guy made me uncomfortable, he seemed to be eyeing me up for a Dinner Option.

[Northstar]

1Dx 400f/2.8 V2, shot f/2.8 & 1/1600th

Have to admit this Guy made me uncomfortable, he seemed to be eyeing me up for a Dinner Option.

very nice leopard shots eml

[eml58]

These are great shots but even after looking at the full JPG, they all seem to be over sharpened to me...more so after the web downsizing.  Did you sharpen these or is this just an affect of compression uploading to the forums?

1Dx 400f/2.8 V2, shot f/2.8 & 1/1600th

Have to admit this Guy made me uncomfortable, he seemed to be eyeing me up for a Dinner Option.

Hi "Eastwind", Guilty I'm afraid, although I try not to over sharpen, what I post is generally the file that I print, so it's had a little more sharpening than I would normally apply so that it Prints well. But I appreciate your comment and I tend to sharpen to what I feel looks right (In On One), then back off a little, sometimes/often I don't back off enough.

[eml58]

1Dx 400f/2.8 V2, shot f/2.8 & 1/1600th

Have to admit this Guy made me uncomfortable, he seemed to be eyeing me up for a Dinner Option.

very nice leopard shots eml

Appreciated Northstar, very few things I enjoy in life more than Wildlife Photography, Photographing Leopards for me is possibly what Photographing Eagles is to Gary Samples, I'de love to Photograph Eagles as well as Gary, but I tend to find they move a little too quick for me, so it's Leopards, with the occasional Wild Dog, Lion or Polar Bear.

1Dx 400f/2.8, shot @ F/4 & 1/320th  Mala Mala Northern South Africa, at night using the 600EX RT as fill with a separate spotlight from our vehicle.