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Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)
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NIKON D5

Aperture f/5.6 ISO 640 Shutter 1/1600 Focal Length 200/1

upload_date

Apr, 2017

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Behind The Lens

Location

I created this photo in the Czech Republic during private photo event with my good friends photographers. We took advantage of a unique opportunity to take a pictures of a young Siberian tiger, which moves free in the countryside. The scene was carefully selected to faithfully match the natural biotope of the tiger. Although it was the young animal in human care, this action was not without risk. The tiger ran about 10 meters from us. It was an unusual experience to be in the presence of this majestic animal.

Time

I remember very well, it was the first wekend of year 2017, was winter morning around nine hours, was a big frost, the temperature dropped below minus 20 degrees, we lay motionless in the snow and we waited for the right moment. Me and my friends we felt too cold, but the tiger was in his best cool.

Lighting

The morning haze over the landscape gave the scene the ideal diffuse light. Therefore, there are no highlights on the snow and the fur and there are no significant shadows on the tiger.

Equipment

I worked with my favourite very fast digital camera Nikon D5. And the first time I tried in action my new lens Nikkor 200-500 f/5,6. I have stabilized this kit on a carbon tripod Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa, thanks to him I could be very very low over the snow, right in the frog position.

Inspiration

I love nature and especially wild animals. But I'm very busy at work, now I can not take part in a time-consuming wilderness expedition. And I think that collective photographic expedition directly into the habitat of the critically endangered tiger is not correct. That's why I took advantage of the unique possibility of assisted photographing of a wild animal in human care, that does not shake the human presence and creates only small risk for the photographer.

Editing

I love natural photos. Shots without big adjustments. I try to capture all my photos so I do not have to use the post-processing. I know it is very modern and trendy today, but I do not work with PS or LR or other software. I invoke my NEF only in Nikon Capture and make only minor edits. Maybe my photos could be even more attractive, but I want to show real reality.

In my camera bag

The contents of my robust Tamrac bag is primarily a powerful digital camera that I can rely on in every weather. Now I'm normally using the body Nikon D5 and the backup body Nikon D850. I normally wear Nikkor lenses 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8. These "workers" have always been with me. On the "macro" action I take the excellent old micro lens Nikkor 200 f/4 or micro lens 105 f/2,8. For animals and birds photography I need to pack "heavier weight" - I'm using the lens Nikkor 400 f/2.8 and now also a new zoom lens Nikkor 180-400 f/4. The last one year I test the new mirrorless Nikon Z7 with my fast lenses.

Feedback

When it comes to photographing the endangered animal species, I recommend the form of "assisted photography". It's about photographing a species of wild animal that is in human care. The animal is tame, working well with it, and it is especially safe for humans. Most importantly, the photographer does not disturb wild animals in their natural biotop. Today there is a trend commercial group photographic expeditions to exotic countries. From the yield is funded the rescue of endangered animal species. But too frequent visits of groups of people in animal biotopes are very disturbing and stressful for endangered animals and their food chain. These expeditions can become very destructive for small animal populations and, instead of rescuing animals, can speed their extinction. We all photographers have to think, whether our money really helps those animals.

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Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Behind The Lens

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