Zoo Cats

[greenieadi]

Too bad, cloudy weather not letting up. On/off drizzle the whole session.

[greenieadi]

The Leopard when out for lunch, so this will do. It went with the Caracal and Puma..................

[raptor84]

Your WB seems a little warm for the tiger shots. Love that close up cheetah portrait though.

[thomasq]

Greenieadi, what sort of equipment u use esp the tele zoom power. any flash?

[greenieadi]

Originally Posted by raptor84 Your WB seems a little warm for the tiger shots. Love that close up cheetah portrait though.

Yup, I played around with CS2 warm filter effect as I found the orig pics dull. I kinda like it. Anyway, at the time it was drizzling. Some sunlight manage to break out from the clouds for the cheetah shot though.Thks for comments.

Originally Posted by thomasq Greenieadi, what sort of equipment u use esp the tele zoom power. any flash?

I used a Sigma 400mm Telemacro lens, tripod, remote trigger and a whole lot of patience. The cheetah shot was 1 eg that I had to wait more than 30mins just to wait for it to turn it's head my way.

[Newbier]

Wow, what a big big cat...

[LittleWolf]

I really like the pictures, for despite being taken in a zoo they look very natural. Easily the best zoo pictures I've seen in a long time. (Ok, one or two are a bit blurred, but still ...)

Originally Posted by greenieadi Too bad, cloudy weather not letting up. On/off drizzle the whole session.

I think cloudy weather is not bad at all. Bright sunlight would result in harsh shadows & excessive contrast. The diffuse light allows to show both the cats and their environment, without blown highlights or drowned out shadows. In particular the first picture is just wonderful.

[greenieadi]

Originally Posted by LittleWolf I really like the pictures, for despite being taken in a zoo they look very natural. Easily the best zoo pictures I've seen in a long time. (Ok, one or two are a bit blurred, but still ...)

Thanks. Definitely, I need more practise. I guess those blurred shots are the crop ones. Saving up for a 500/600mm + 1.4tc so no need crop, he...he...he..., if I can afford one.

Originally Posted by LittleWolf I think cloudy weather is not bad at all. Bright sunlight would result in harsh shadows & excessive contrast. The diffuse light allows to show both the cats and their environment, without blown highlights or drowned out shadows. In particular the first picture is just wonderful.

Yes, you're right. I had that in my mind all the time. Under such controlled environment,ie animals in enclosures, I have all the time to pounce on that shot I want.

I just want to capture the big cats as if they were at home in the Serengeti, Africa or Jungles of Asia without actually me having to go there. I was actually listening to the song Africa by ToTo all the time to inspire me. Dunno how many tens of times it kept repeated by my Mp3 player..