Snow Leopard

[Fogey]

Taken at Dudley Zoo.

[Clicker]

That's rather dramatic ...  Do explain the circumstances Fogey ..

[Clicker]

Aha ... have  just  deconstructed it and seen the cage   wires .. You've done a nice job  there !

[Kobione]

Nice one Fogey - haven't they got beautiful coats!!

[Fogey]

Thank you.

You are right Polly.  This beautiful animal was in a meshed cage.

The cage which was on three different levels connected by boughs that acted like bridges for the Leopard, and was in a deep shadow of trees, with the light filtering through.

Something caught the attention of the cat and I was taken with the catchlight in the eye, even through the mesh wire.  I took a deliberately under exposed shot to minimise the presence of the wire mesh, with the intention of cloning out the mesh in front of the subject.

Well, it took a year to get round to it and some 6 hours work in PP.  Once I cloned out the foreground mesh, I muted the background mesh to dramatise the image.

The foliage was on the outside of the cage.

[Clicker]

Well done Sir .... I could see a lot of work must have been done  once I saw the  wire at the back  so I realised that there must have been some at the  front too unless it was a glass  wall ... I did like the "GLINT ' in his eye .. It shows your patience was rewarded... 

[Paul]

looking to the stars...

Paul.

[Fogey]

On 09/10/2022 at 06:46, Kobione said:

Nice one Fogey - haven't they got beautiful coats!!

Thank you.

Yes they do have beautiful coats.  I was really taken with this particular animal.

[VWGolf]

Great capture of this beautiful cat.
I love the low key way you've processed it

[Ryewolf]

Great shot

[Fogey]

The Snow Leopard re-worked..........

.........with Nik software.

 

[Clicker]

Wow.....  what an improvement Fogey ... awesome detail extracted  on his ( or her )coat... exposure looks so much better ... A magnificent creature ....

[Fogey]

Thank you Polly.  Nik Software is very good.  I managed to lighten the coat of the subject as well as darken the background, and lighten and enhance the foliage at the same time using layers and masks.

[Clicker]

It’s often good to go back to reprocess an image … it’s an evolving process I find that is commensurate often with ones learning experience and expertise … you must be pleased with the result ….

[Fogey]

I am indeed.