Leopard watching whilst in a tree
A male leopard watching the world go by whilst standing in a tree, in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana.
A male leopard watching the world go by whilst standing in a tree, in the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana.
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Jan, 2019Views
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
2020 Choice Award
Magnificent Capture
Peer Award
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo in Botswana - specifically in the Moremi Game reserve in the Okavango Delta. It is a wild area with no fences. I am a self-taught photographer, so I'm constantly learning new things!Time
Personally, I love this image. I'm sure everyone will agree that seeing a wild leopard, in its natural habitat, is truly special. This was no different. I was on an early morning game drive, waking up around 04:30 and leaving camp around 05:00 to explore the bush and see what we could find. The leopards in the area are more active when it's cooler in the mornings, and the guides are brilliant at just knowing their habits. This particular male leopard loves climbing trees, so when the opportunity came to photograph him in the tree, I had to take it! This was taken at 06:34am on 29th November 2018.Lighting
I wanted this image to look natural and really help the viewer focus on the main subject: the majestic leopard looking onward while perched on a branch. Luckily the morning light landed itself quite well to this; it was not too dark yet not to blindingly bright either.Equipment
This image was shot on a Panasonic DMC-FS15 camera, with ISO 80, 26mm, f/5.9 and a speed of 1/160s. No flash, and no other equipment was used.Inspiration
Due to spending around 3 months in Botswana in late 2018, I was lucky enough to see multiple leopards over dozens of different sightings. Even seeing one with your own eyes is truly magical, but as time went by I really wanted to capture a striking image of one - for example: hunting, jumping, climbing etc. I had been inspired by other photographers taking amazing pictures of leopards too, so I just tried to give it a go. In this image, the leopard itself did all the work - it climbed a tall tree, stood on a branch and watched for a while over the bush beneath it. I was just lucky enough to be there at the right time and capture what I saw.Editing
For this particular image, I did not do any post-processing, as I wanted it to look completely natural. I did create a duplicate image in black and white, which I also think is very striking, but is not the image displayed here. Botswana generally has quite a harsh landscape. Yes, there are the greens of the bushes and grass, and the blue of the water and sky, but for much of the year, it is incredibly dusty and the strong sun can produce and very bright glare, which you have to be careful of unless you're aiming to capture this.In my camera bag
As I am a new photographer, with not much experience, I hardly have nay equipment. What I do have at the moment, is my old Panasonic DMC-FS15, which is by no means incredible but it takes a reliable, solid picture. I also like taking my Go Pro for those action shots, or if I know an adventure is round the corner. Hopefully one day, I will be able to get more advanced cameras/lenses.Feedback
Botswana is a wild land, and you never know what it or its wildlife will do. Whether it's a dust storm, unexpected rain shower or an invasion of flying ants or red-roman spiders, it is never boring. The same goes for its wildlife too. There is a plethora of species in the Okavango Delta, from the African Elephant, to the leaping impala or tiny Elephant shrew. Leopards are one of the most sought-after animals to photograph. Be patient - stick around and just keep watching them. Get to know their favourite trees, drinking spots or shady rest areas from the heat. The chances are if you're patient, you will be rewarded.
