close iframe icon
approved icon BrianBasson avatar PRO+
BrianBasson
Banner

The Freedom to be able to do this! © Brian Basson



behind the lens badge

All rights reserved © Brian Basson

Photo taken in the Tuli Safari Area, Botswana.
A large cat, with a powerfully-built body and comparativel...
Read more

All rights reserved © Brian Basson

Photo taken in the Tuli Safari Area, Botswana.
A large cat, with a powerfully-built body and comparatively short legs. Weighing in at around 70kg, Leopards are about a third of the size of a lion.

They are solitary, terrestrial, and partly arboreal. Usually nocturnal, but to some extent diurnal.

All of my images on this website and others are protected by International copyright Law, with all my rights reserved.
The images may not be copied, reproduce, manipulated or used in any way, without obtaining the written permission of Brian Basson Photography.
Read less

Views

2217

Likes

Awards

Chatter Award
Top Shot Award 21
Remarkable
Top Choice
Japes Discoveries asaduzzamanrupu rahulrokade lucycastro Diane77 Flossiefaelossie +32
Superb Composition
kennethcyr robert_benson_3742 Lolasioux billiejob miketrainor rorypatterson Loekie +29
Absolute Masterpiece
marytuck Marsphs lisalisa_2760 Svenergy72 RLP073 Porsche LASummers +27
Peer Award
morriskleyman ElleAguiar Burnettj xxIsshinxx wimpiemaartens tommylightfoot grandpa_Vlad +15
Outstanding Creativity
victoriadremach josephkipsang 1523_9749 831John Herc rituparnabose BackwoodsPhotography +7
Magnificent Capture
Steve-n-Ning traceymcdonald NatureLoverJJWal Madzebra annakoperczak Beegirl Ove_Christensen +7
Jaw Dropping
sweetpea72 juliekees-sheldon Biata wesselb SarahKeates vickiecrosbyharmon gallmese +5
All Star
simonbain debbiescott QHfilly meshersmith
Love it
davidjoyce Daveh terriegray HermienKlopper
Superior Skill
AllisonEllenwood snowdon
Exceptional Contrast
DesignByKathi

Emotions

Impressed
AdelsonPhotos

Top Ranks

Creative Boundaries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Fantastic Felines Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Fantastic Felines Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Around The World Photo Contest Digital Camera WorldTop 10 rank
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Endangered Species Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Endangered Species Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
We Love Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank
We Love Animals Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Monthly Pro Vol 27 Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Monthly Pro Vol 27 Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Monthly Pro Vol 27 Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1

Categories


52 Comments | Report
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots February 09, 2013
Great capture!
PFClick
 
PFClick February 09, 2013
Very cool. Getting ready to go on a Leopard safari in Sri Lanka myself. Hopefully can capture something this beautiful. Well done.
believeit2receiveit
 
believeit2receiveit February 09, 2013
What a great capture!
DesignByKathi
 
DesignByKathi February 13, 2013
Wow exceptional capture..
RoseSmith
 
RoseSmith February 22, 2013
OMG!!!!!!!! simply exceptional
RoseSmith
 
RoseSmith February 22, 2013
Awarded & my favorite
Inmar
 
Inmar February 24, 2013
Great capture!!
ChrisKIELY
 
ChrisKIELY February 24, 2013
I love how these cats hang around in the trees - so lay back, and cool!!
ChrisKIELY
 
ChrisKIELY February 24, 2013
A brilliant capture Brian.
melsteinberg
 
melsteinberg February 28, 2013
Very cool!
anneschlueter PRO+
 
anneschlueter February 28, 2013
Voted!
IsabellaD Premium
 
IsabellaD March 02, 2013
SUPERB,Voted!
snowdon PRO
 
snowdon March 03, 2013
Superb image. Nice idea using the tree as a lair. Great image. Voted
ChrisKIELY
 
ChrisKIELY March 05, 2013
Voted Brian - this has to be a winner for sure. It is one of my favourite photos! A stunning, amazing capture. Good luck!
ChrisKIELY
 
ChrisKIELY March 06, 2013
Thank you for your commentary. I do understand in my own way. This is truly a magnificent, 'once off' photograph, and deserves a spot on the podium. I truly hope so. It is one of those shots you could not, or should not, miss!! I totally adore it. Good luck Brian. Brilliant, to say the least.
korinna
 
korinna March 07, 2013
Voted! :) If you like any of mine, pls vote for it:
http://www.viewbug.com/contests/trees-photo-contest-by-bayphoto/2375621
http://www.viewbug.com/contests/trees-photo-contest-by-bayphoto/2375620
DesignByKathi
 
DesignByKathi March 08, 2013
Came back to vote. Good luck.
Kazza60
 
Kazza60 March 09, 2013
Great shot voted
photosue50
 
photosue50 March 19, 2013
Awesome capture
DesignByKathi
 
DesignByKathi April 04, 2013
YAHOOO WOW... CONGRATULATION ~.BRIAN.... ...YEAH.. WELL DESERVED...!!!
stephy
 
stephy April 04, 2013
Congrats on your award well done.
Thimbee
 
Thimbee April 18, 2013
Love this one! Congrats
Hari_Subagio
 
Hari_Subagio May 25, 2013
Aha...Very Cool
daydreamsbymary0710 Platinum
 
daydreamsbymary0710 May 26, 2013
Amazing shot! Congrats! :)M
Oksana
 
Oksana May 29, 2013
This image made me smile! Great capture!
UnkleFrank
 
UnkleFrank August 11, 2013
Beautiful capture of this profoundly magnificent predator at rest. Nicely done. Congrats!!!
hayleycook
 
hayleycook August 15, 2013
Love this shot, 'just chillng' fantastic shot :D
vsidles Platinum
 
vsidles September 07, 2013
these are such awesome creatures and you have some amazing shots of them!
HelenRea
 
HelenRea October 03, 2013
This is so good Shaka! :)
WileKyK
 
WileKyK October 05, 2013
Fantastic shot. These cats are tough to spot and harder to photograph!
photosue50
 
photosue50 October 05, 2013
Awesome
Arzhtatiana
 
Arzhtatiana October 14, 2013
A great shot!
Flosno
 
Flosno October 26, 2013
An amazing image....voted
Kazza60
 
Kazza60 October 27, 2013
Awesome !! voted
disneymamom PRO+
 
disneymamom November 04, 2013
a fav photo for me.. again.. and I like the title you gave..
disneymamom PRO+
 
disneymamom December 01, 2013
VOTED! absolute sanctuary for you, I know and appreciate you sharing. blessings, Cheryl
carolcardillo PRO+
 
carolcardillo December 10, 2013
Amazing photo, great detail!
heathermcfw
 
heathermcfw December 11, 2013
great lighting, and wonderful capture of an unusual pose.
HelenRea
 
HelenRea February 14, 2014
Wonderful capture Brian! :)))
SarahKeates
 
SarahKeates March 10, 2014
So jealous of your African shots! This is brilliant!
Biata
 
Biata March 30, 2014
Interesting :-)
Vince542
 
Vince542 March 31, 2014
Great capture!! Bravo!!
rmr731 Platinum
 
rmr731 May 30, 2014
Amazing capture! Stunning image!
sweetpea72
 
sweetpea72 May 30, 2014
WOW...amazing shot :)
geertweggen
 
geertweggen March 07, 2015
fantastic moment captured here
geertweggen
 
geertweggen February 12, 2016
lovely moment captured!
Beegirl
 
Beegirl September 12, 2016
Wonderful shot
NatureLoverJJWal
 
NatureLoverJJWal June 02, 2017
Such a beauty Congratulations on your award!
Davebfc7
 
Davebfc7 June 03, 2017
Brilliant image
Thimbee
 
Thimbee June 08, 2017
One of my all time favorite photo! Great capture.
irisbraun PRO+
 
irisbraun June 10, 2017
Superb image
lizziemellis Platinum
 
lizziemellis November 11, 2021
Amazing shot :-)
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Photo taken in the Tuli Safari Area, NE Botswana.

Time

Taken in the magic early morning lighting time between 6:00 and 9:00am in the height of the African summer (January). This meant that I had to get up at around 4:00am to be where I wanted to be.

Lighting

Not matter where I am I try to utilise the golden hours to help me with lighting. Try and get the lighting as good as you can in your shot to avoid trying to fix it up in post-production.

Equipment

This image was shot on a Canon 5D MK III with a Sigma f2.8 120 - 300mm OS DG prime lens + a Sigma 2x Converter. The camera was hand held as there is no place for a tripod in a 4x4 safari vehicle other than a monopod.

Inspiration

My passion is capturing wildlife on camera, in the wild. Everything in the African bush happens so fast, as it did with this opportunity. We literarily came around a bend, in very thick bush, and there the leopard was, simply lolling in the tree meters from where we were. When I was taking the shot all I could think of was that this leopard was living a life of total freedom, as he was meant to do. For me this image represents freedom, and the importance of the work that is being done, in many African countries, to preserve Africa's unique wildlife for future generations. Think of the movie "Born Free" about the life of Joy and George Adamson.

Editing

This image was taken as a Jpeg, which limits the amount of post-processing that can be done. I used Apple's Aperture 3 for post-processing where I adjusted the exposure and curves. I've now evolved to using RAW, which I would recommend to all photographers as this gives you far greater flexibility when post-processing.

In my camera bag

I undertake a lot of travel in the African bush so I try to go as well prepared as I can, as photo opportunities evolve by the second. I carry two camera bodies: A Canon 5D MK III + a Canon 7d MK II. My lenses vary from time to time, but I always have my Canon EF 100 - 400 mm f5.6 L IS along with a Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS and Canon Macro 100mm f2.8 L IS plus a Canon EF 50mm f1.8. When in the African bush, and most other places, I ensure that I have a cleaning kit in order to maintain my lenses in as pristine a state as I can. Finally, I take along at least eight camera batteries to ensure that I have a continuous supply of charged batteries; as charging cab be very limited at times.

Feedback

I always try to stick to the rule of using the golden hours of light in early morning and late afternoon. Try to preempt what lens you will possibly need. With my two camera bodies I have the 100-400mm lens on one and on the other camera it could be the 70-200mm, this will cover me for different distances. If it is possible to use a tripod use it.

See more amazing photos, follow BrianBasson

It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.