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Your Last Breath
Your Last Breath
idnic


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Free Study XIV (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM
Location: Jacksonville
Date: Oct 28, 2006
Aperture: 4.5
ISO: 200
Shutter: 200
Galleries: Animals
Date Uploaded: Oct 30, 2006

 Wow! Yet another case of "F8 and Be There". I was goofing at the zoo, standing in front of this leopard, when a zookeeper asked if I was getting any shots I liked. I was honest and said "Not really, he's in a terrible location in the cage, I can't get a good shot". He asked if I wanted the leopard closer and I said I did (duh!!) :D

Anyway, after explaining to me that this leopard has one pissy pissy personality and attacks at every possible opportunity, he showed me where to stand (on top of a bench in the viewing area so I got a clear shot). Then he crossed the barrier between the viewing area and the leopards cage fence, squatted down kinda low..... THEN TURNED HIS BACK TO THE LEOPARD! The second he turned his back, the leopard (who had been about 8' up in a tree) started stalking and I started shooting. This is the last frame before it leapt from the tree and threw all of its weight into its cage fence. The fence bowed out so far that it hit the zookeeper on the shoulder. It was soooooooo cool! A shot of a lifetime for me! :)

Do well you pissy boy! :)

Statistics
Place: 68 out of 625
Avg (all users): 6.3069
Avg (commenters): 7.5500
Avg (participants): 6.2432
Avg (non-participants): 6.5366
Views since voting: 1787
Views during voting: 308
Votes: 189
Comments: 27
Favorites: 7 (view)

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AuthorThread
 11/15/2006 01:03:34 AM
That's a great shot and an even better story! The intensity in its eyes is pretty incredible.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/14/2006 09:57:07 AM
Fabulous capture, but the colours are OTT for me. You could use the HDR technique to tone down the bright areas a little, but that's nitpicking.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/08/2006 07:49:53 PM
wonderful shot!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/08/2006 06:22:17 AM
Wow, what a great shot with a great story! This deserved a higher score of course. Too bad voters didn't appreciate it.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/08/2006 04:42:11 AM
Great story, Cindi! And an outstanding image! Maybe a little dark is why it may not have scored as high as it seems it should have. Still a good finish !
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
11/07/2006 03:12:17 PM
fantastic capture but a bit on the dark side, still an 8 though
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/07/2006 02:31:05 PM
You definitely clicked the shutter at the perfect instant. That pose and the composition make for a great photo. You seemed to of found the perfect balance between the shaded and bright areas. Well done!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/07/2006 06:01:26 AM
Lovely point of view and exposure. 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/06/2006 08:51:40 PM
awsome picture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/06/2006 01:05:51 PM
Absolutely spellbounding! Perfect lighting and focus....lucky you.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/06/2006 12:23:55 PM
You must have an excellent telephoto lens to have survived to submit this photo - wonderful capture
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/05/2006 09:22:22 PM
great eye conteact and colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/05/2006 05:11:58 PM
Very interesting.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/05/2006 02:39:39 PM
I think this would be somewhat better if cropped to lower half of the image. The body of the cat is distracting because of the dappled light. But that face! Terrific impact!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/05/2006 10:30:21 AM
great shot, beautiful lighting, colours and contrast.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/04/2006 06:01:35 PM
i love the green eyes, but i wish it wasn't quite so dark.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/04/2006 01:56:12 PM
Great title and EYES!! Good angle.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2006 02:01:21 PM
Looks too overprocessed for my tastes, colours seem to saturated. But that's just me I suppose. Wonderful stare, very intense moment you captured.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2006 08:27:48 AM
love the eyes
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/03/2006 12:14:56 AM
What a capture, and what a look.....
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/02/2006 06:54:44 PM
Nice capture! It looks like the leopard is staring right at you!! Saturation on the fur really brings out the colors.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 11:38:11 PM
very sharp. great capture and good title to match.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 09:48:39 PM
wow, very intimidating animal.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 08:45:14 PM
oh yea very nice
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 07:34:34 PM
Amazing shot... The whites are blown out and distract from the piercing gaze. Maybe some burning on the hotspots could balance out the incredible lighting on the face...maybe even a landscape crop just above the ears, losing some on the right side as well. Great shot. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 07:00:47 PM
Talk about wow factor. I'm starting this at 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 11/01/2006 04:20:52 AM
great title and a strong image...love the pose and composition
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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