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Wild-Soul β Whiskers
Published: 2009-04-11 16:09:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 2967; Favourites: 130; Downloads: 0
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Description
Xembalo, the Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis).*Edit*Cropped the thing on the left out */Edit*
Shot through bars.
Leipzig Zoo, Saxony
Submission ,
Submission for #WildPhotographyClub 's Contest.
Featured by:
~MorgaineAnne [link]
=NatureByDesign [link]
More Leopards: Here
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Comments: 43
This photograph is appealing to me is so many ways. The Amur Leopard, one of my top five favorite animals, is all but one reason why. It's the feel, the color, the subliminal.
I usually don't like seeing the "Rule of Thirds" in art. I believe that it is for novices who just took a photography course at their community college. You, however, exploited the rule's concept and rose above the mediocrity. The eyes and nose loosely line up with the third's grid; not the subject becoming balanced out by a background object.
Immediately, the viewer is drawn to the leopard's beautiful, slate eyes. The eyes lead down to the nose, and finally, the viewers follow the whiskers. The visual flow in this photograph is almost perfect. There is very little dead space for the viewer to ignore.
I want to compliment you on the focus as well. You were right on the money. The short aperture does a brilliant job at emphasizing the focal point as well.
Things that may be overlooked are very evident here. The Amur Leopard is looking down at something that is outside of the frame. But, what is the leopard looking at? The crystal clear focus on the eyes allows for the viewer to see emotion. A sense of bereft is what I see, like the leopard is watching a painful memory pass by.
I also noticed that the front, right leg has yet to come forward. Using previous knowledge, I can safely guess that the leopard's head will move with the shoulder, turning and lifting back up. Proudly, maybe.
I've read that the Amur Leopard population, in the wild, has increased from 40 to 50. This could be the abstract thought that is passing through this leopard's consciousness. The leopard's head is not up yet, but hopefully, it will be. I see a slight glimmer of hope in this photograph. It is only slight, but it's there.
I cannot really say that there is anything wrong with this photograph. There is that one dead corner in the upper right, but what can you really do about that? This a wonderful photograph of an absolutely amazing and beautiful animal.
I hope you continue and do well with your photography. I look forward to what you have in store for us, in the future. I wish you the best of luck.
May the Amur Leopards be saved.
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First of all I've to apologise for my lateness.
Thank You very much for your wonderful critique. You've seen things I never saw before in this photo. But now after reading your critique and looking at it again it gets a different meaning.
I also hope that the Amur Leopards survive our foolishness. It's great that the number of wild Leopards is improving. Also 50 sounds much at first it's still far from good. Hopefully it will improve further.
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Don't worry about it
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Gosh, don't know how I missed this one! Stunning capture!
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Thank You very much!^^
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Gorgeous cat. Lovely photo. I really like how the focus is just on the head and the rest of the body is out of focus.
- Ari
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You're welcome! 
- Ari
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Thank You very much!!
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Excellent shot. You caught it just in the right moment
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Thank You very much^^
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I think that's much better and a tighter crop too
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Thank You very much
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Very nice capture, nice light and a very good pose. Seeing his eyelashes is quite touching somehow. Expressive shot.
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A very nice photo. What is that thing to the left? Perhaps that could be cropped out?
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Thank You
That thing is a part of the fence. He was doing this cat thing... rubbing against objects...
I'll give it a try though. Thanks for the hint.
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Ohhh I see, well it does look better now for sure. Nothing to distract from the kitty
You're welcome
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You're right it looks ways better now. Thank you again!
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This is a beautiful, wonderful shot! Very nice!
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Thank You very much!
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