Inspiring Photo: Snow Leopard #14330868

Snow Leopard

Uploaded: December 22, 2013

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 December 22, 2013 0

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

Sherran Andersen December 22, 2013 0

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

Stephen Shoff December 22, 2013 0

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

Rita K. Connell December 22, 2013 0

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 0

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

Dale Hardin December 22, 2013 0

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 0

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 0

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 23, 2013 0

Nice! #10927728

Dale Hardin December 23, 2013 0

Thanks Jeff. #10927751

Michelle Alton December 23, 2013 0

Wonderful portrait! #10927850

Kalena Randall December 23, 2013 0

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

Dale Hardin December 23, 2013 0

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

Kristin Duff December 23, 2013 0

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

Michael Kelly December 23, 2013 0

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 0

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 0

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 0

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 0

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 December 23, 2013 0

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 24, 2013 0

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

Michael Kelly December 24, 2013 0

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

Susan Williams December 24, 2013 0

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 0

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 0

gorgeous #10929208

Dale Hardin December 25, 2013 0

Thank you Joy and Merry Christmas. #10929236

Wm Nosal February 01, 2014 0

Beautiful Image Dale!
Congratulations! #10961551

Dale Hardin February 01, 2014 0

thanks a lot Wm. #10961613

Laura L. Gonzales February 01, 2014 0

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

Dale Hardin February 01, 2014 0

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

Beth Spencer February 02, 2014 0

Congratulations! #10963014

Elaine Hessler February 02, 2014 0

Gorgeous-congrats Dale!!! #10963036

Kristin Duff February 02, 2014 0

Congrats Dale! #10963062

Dale Hardin February 02, 2014 0

Thanks, guys. #10963301

JO ANN CLEVELAND February 03, 2014 0

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 03, 2014 0

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 0

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

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