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davidjharper

Musiara and cub,Masai Mara, Kenya

Musiara and her one remaining cub; the cub sadly died a few weeks after the photo was taken. Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya....
Read more

Musiara and her one remaining cub; the cub sadly died a few weeks after the photo was taken. Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Read less

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

settings

Aperture f/5 ISO 400 Shutter 1/2500 Focal Length 500/1

upload_date

Feb, 2018

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2336

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+762

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+705

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+49

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+21

Outstanding Creativity

All Star

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+21

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Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

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Behind The Lens

Location

I was "on safari" in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya. I was staying at a safari camp, and a friend and I had the use of a vehicle with our own driver/guide. The advantage of this arrangement is you have a seat to yourself, so you can move easily from one side of the vehicle to the other.

Time

Typically, you are on the move just after sun-up. I think the photo was taken mid-morning.

Lighting

Frankly, you don't have much choice lighting. I liked the side-lighting as the shadow, for me, emphasised the protection provide by the mother for the cub. However, the light was quite strong, and consequently the whites can be easily over-exposed (blown highlights). It is important to reduce the exposure by a 1/2-1 stop to avoid blown highlights. Even so, the whites are still a little blown on this photo.

Equipment

It was shot on a Canon 5D IV with a prime 500mm lens. I stopped the lens down (F5) to maximize background blur. I used a very fast shutter speed (1/2500) in order to freeze any movement, and on safari, I almost always shoot high speed multiple shots. That way you are more likely to catch those "magical moments".

Inspiration

Leopards are beautiful animals to photograph, and so one always stops to photograph them. Of course a mother and cub(s) is very special. Sadly, the cub was killed a few weeks later.

Editing

I tightly cropped the photo to focus attention on the mother-cub interaction. I had to adjust highlights and shadows to (a) minimize blown highlights, and (b) bring out detail in shadows. I did some sharpening of the image. I spent some time on the eyes (as they were in shadow) and brightened them with a brush. I don't typically removed grass stalks and the like, and prefer to try an shoot clean photos.

In my camera bag

On safari, I typically pack my main Canon bodies: 5D4 and 7D2, for two reasons: in case one goes unserviceable, and because I like the flexibility of two bodies with different lens. I set up with 500mm on the 5D, and 100-400mm on the 7D, but honestly I vary this (almost on a whim, sometimes). I usually take a wide-ish angle 18-40mm and/or a 24-105mm. And, lots of batteries and cards. I am trying to take enough cards for a 7-day trip - which is a lot - as you can easily shoot 1500-2000 photos a day. At the end of the day, you don't want to be faffing about copying cards to a computer, especially when "sundowners" (drinks) beckon. And, you need a good cleaning kit.

Feedback

The key to good safari photography is being familiar with your gear. Make sure you gets lots of practice beforehand, and preferably with similar subjects, at the zoo (say). It is always best to get as low as possible in the vehicle, so you are on the same level as the animals. I shoot aperture priority (normally) so I can easily adjust aperture (duh!), and automatic ISO (but sometimes adjust ISO manually in low light situations). It is vital to use high shutter speeds (faster than 1/1000th) and landscape photographers often make the mistake of using too low a shutter speed. You want to freeze those special moments. Unless, of course, you want to slow it down, and slow pan moving animals. And, as the day brightens, don't forget to reduce the ISO. Lastly, take lots of photos, but, at the same time, occasionally put the camera down and simply enjoy the experience of being there with these truly wonderful animals in this truly magical place.

See more amazing photos, follow davidjharper

davidjharper

davidjharper

Musiara and cub,Masai Mara, Kenya

Musiara and her one remaining cub; the cub sadly died a few weeks after the photo was taken. Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya....
Read more

Views

Likes

Awards

Emotions

Top Ranks

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

Discover more photos See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Time

Lighting

Equipment

Inspiration

Editing

In my camera bag

Feedback

See more amazing photos, follow davidjharper

davidjharper

Musiara and cub,Masai Mara, Kenya

Musiara and her one remaining cub; the cub sadly died a few weeks after the photo was taken. Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya.... Read more

Views

Likes

Awards

Emotions

Top Ranks

Categories

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

Same photographer See allBehind The Lens

Discover more photos See all

Behind The Lens

Location

Time

Lighting

Equipment

Inspiration

Editing

In my camera bag

Feedback

See more amazing photos, follow davidjharper

Musiara and her one remaining cub; the cub sadly died a few weeks after the photo was taken. Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Masai Mara, Kenya....
Read more

Same photographer See all Behind The Lens