An overcast day did not provide the best photographic opportunities, until this female leopard decided to scale a large Marula Tree, and peer into the distance watching an approaching pack of Wild Dogs. Using a spotlight, I was able to warm her up enough to get what I felt was a really pleasing image. This is a repost of one of the first images I uploaded, since then I have a few more Followers who I thought may appreciate this image. Leopard Stare
Such magnificent light, added to the most beautiful winter leaf and vegetation colours, allowed me to capture, this, one of my most treasured images from a colour and vibrancy perspective Leopard in Fire
Male Leopard being lit up with a spotlight coming for a drink one evening Night Thirst
Best viewed with dark screen Loved the Dark shadows in the background. Was such bad light, but I am happy with the way these images turned out. This was the first look at this female, relaxing in our presence. Up to this point she had been a nervous girl, who would keep her distance. Leopard in the Dark
A similar image to one of the first that I posted here on 500px. It was from the same sighting where this female leopard was watching a pack of Wilddogs approaching. Leopard Staring at Wilddogs.
This is one of the Leopards I have photographed the most, and in the next few weeks I will be posting many scanned slides of this female. We called her Makwela, and she was she most relaxed Leopard any person could wish to see in the wild. I have called her Queen Mother, because she was also the most successful leopard female that I have known, successfully raising at least 5 different litters of cubs before her unfortunate death a few years ago. Her genes still run strong in the Sabi Sands, where there are at a quick count, at least 10 current leopards that are descendant from her, or her offspring. Nothing beats taking pictures in such brilliant light. Queen Mother
Early morning a female leopard walked over an open clearing from shadow areas into brilliant early morning sunshine. I only had the chance to snap one image before she again entered the shade and the atmosphere was going to be lost. I still love the saturated colours that Fujifilm Velvia 50 produced. One cannot ask for a better subject when the light is good in nature photography. Golden Leopard
One of my first ever photographic opportunities of a large male leopard. This was taken way back in 2003, with my trusty Minolta Maxxum 9, and Fujifilm Velvia 100. Recently I scanned this one and digitized it, thought I would share. Leopard Lip Licker
This is a repost of an image I uploaded a few monts back, but have re-edited it slightly. I am happier about how it looks now, removed a slight green colourcast. I Was fortunate enough to follow a male and female Leopard for a while one afternoon in the hope of capturing some mating action. Light was not in my favor, thus the slow shutter speed, but I felt it added superbly to the sense of movement and action captured. Right after pulling away, because of pain inflicted on the smaller female, she would normally fly around trying to swat at her tormentor. I waited and started firing off a few frames hoping that I could capture the action, and boy was I pleased with the eventual results. The streaky sand grains being created by my compelled choice of shutter speed, really appealed to me, never mind capturing the extremely rare moment of mating, and more over, mating of shy and secretive leopards. Mating Leopard Jump
I suppose I could not have asked for too much more from this stunning leopard when he posed at eye level for me on a raised termite mound. The rich winter vegetation colours helped to create this image taken on a day when any photographer would have paid for the afternoon sunset light. All about the Light!!!!!
Male leopard perched himself up in a dead tree to avoid being injured by pride of lions that lay below. Leopard Solitude
The often aggressive dismount after successful mating of Leopards. Mating Leopard Dismount
Great Colours complimented a beautiful Male Leopard late one morning Kashane Male leopard
A Young female Leopard descending a Marula tree in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve Descending Leopard
Loved the stare I got through the bushes and leaves after finding a female leopard lying on the edge of a stream one afternoon late. The light was fading fast, and I only decided to snap some images when she was veiled by the shrubs, at that time it made me think of a veiled Muslim lady, protecting her face from view. Leopard Intensity
Portrait of a beautiful young female leopard captured in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Same series as the picture titled, Classic Tree Leopard. Leopard Female Beauty
A young Leopard cub was feeding on an impala with its mother, when 3 hyaenas approached, sending the cub scuttling up the closest refuge, a solitary stump devoid of any cover. After a few minutes of taking pictures with the most amazing light, my slow lens started making taking pictures a challenge at 1/30s, taking into account I was using Velvia 100. I re positioned myself to get some images trying to capture the sunset behind the mountains in the background. The sense of solitude pleased me, and also the mystery of if the cub would survive a long night perched so precariously. Was this the sun setting on the day, or on the youngsters life too? Good news was that it was alive the following morning, and survived to adulthood. Sunset Leopard
Even now, knowing that I took this picture in natural conditions, I still look at this sometimes and think it was posed with studio lighting. Had the greatest light a person could ask for when photographing this Male Leopard up a tree in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Male Leopard Portrait
Loved the fabulous light that allowed me to take an appealing photograph of this beautiful female leopard as she was sitting above me on the edge of a riverbed. Makwela Leopard
I was so lucky to have got an opportunity to photograph 2 leopard cubs, in a very unusual and unique, wild den site, a storm drain pipe underneath a road, in the Manyeleti Game reserve in South Africa. It was very awkward trying to get the shot, hold a big heavy 500mm lens, and a spotlight at the same time, lying on my stomach in a cramped vehicle, but I was over the moon with the result. Pipe Leopard Cub Den
This is by no means a true representation of the image captured. I have played extensively with this in Photoshop, and eventually liked the atmosphere and effect it created. This was a male Leopard up in a dead tree. Drama up High
Another image of the 2 leopard cubs that I was fortunate enough to photograph, under a road in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, where they found refuge in a storm water drain pipe. The mother was confident enough that this was a safe and secure den for the youngsters, even though it was a man made structure. Leopard Cub Pipe Den
Female Leopard captured recently as she was jumping into a tree to go and relax during the heat of the day. Leaping Leopard
Young Leopard Cub captured taking off after it's sibling in the most unreal early morning sunlight. Pouncing Leopard Cub
I have seen 2 of the photographers that I enjoy following here on 500px posting Images of this Male Leopard called Makepies. He really is a poser and our resident "model" here in the northern Timbavati. Hope you enjoy this Mario Moreno and Xenedis. It was taken in the middle of winter, where the backdrop of the drying Mopane leaves gave everything a spectacular red hue which was stunningly complimented with those late afternoon/sunset colours we experience with our winter sunsets here in South Africa Makepies Male Leopard
Another Image from a previous posted series involving 2 Leopards Mating. This is a side on view, as opposed to a frontal dismount. Mating Leopard Dismounted
The unusual colour of this Leopards eyes really had me interested in getting an image of her. Photographic conditions were not ideal, with her lying in a thicket, feeding on the remains of an impala kill she had made a few days before. I tried to make the most of it, and am happy that I did, because I never saw her again after this was taken. I tried to find a gap through which I could snap away, and she obliged by tilting her head just enough to fit into the natural frame created by some fallen over logs and branches, as she was chewing on some skin. There are not many blue eyed leopards around, and I find them the most beautiful creatures. Blue Eyed Beauty
Tried my hand at a shot of a Leopard walking, whilst panning with a slow shutter speed. Moving Leopard
Found this large male Leopard sitting in a dead Leadwood Tree in after being chased there by a lioness on the ground. Leopard in the Clouds
A relaxed female Leopard walked right up to the side of my car, while she was watching a Male Leopard up in a tree. Close Up Leopard
This is going back a few years, we called this female, Makwela. I wish I had some better light to take photos of her posing like this. Slide scan Leopard Focus
Followed a male Leopard to a dam one morning and was blessed by the best possible light. Morning Drink
Female Leopard in the classic pose of lying on a horizontal tree branch. Classic Tree Leopard
Here is an old slide that I scanned in. This was a pic of my favorite Leopard of all time. Watched her from a youngster, till her untimely death in 2011. Leopard Yawn
This was a female leopard I managed to get in the Manyeleti Game Reserve a few years ago. She was watching her son feeding on a kill stashed in the tree above. Leopard Staring
Early morning light made this playful cub very photogenic. This particular youngster had 2 different colour eyes, which made for some interesting photographs. Peek-a-boo
This image was taken years and years ago with Velvia 100, loaded in my Minolta Maxxum 9, so the quality may not be the best, because of a substandard quality scan. I will be re-scanning this image in the near future, but decided to post this image in the interim. This is a very young Leopard cub, photographed at its den site that it shared with its brother. I loved the vegetation, fresh and young, ready to bloom, just like the young growing Leopard. Cute Leopard Cub
A Portrait of a female leopard seen in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve in South Africa Leopard Portrait
I am no master when it comes to converting images to black and white, but playing around last night I came up with this image that I rather enjoyed. Male Leopard Mono
Leopard Female I photographed a few times in the Sabi Sand game Reserve. Leopard Female Portrait
Male leopard in a Leadwood Tree. Wanted to include more of the environment in this shot than the actual animal subject. Leopard and Leadwood
So this is the first of my manipulated images. I am by nature someone who does no work on images with post processing, but this image is of a male and female Leopard drinking at the exact same spot, 3 minutes after each other. I flipped the smaller female image horizontally, so that she faced opposite to how I captured her. I then took the 2 images and did a panoramic merge, to get the leopards face to face, with the goal of seeing the notable size difference between the Male and Female leopards. I had been following these leopards while they were mating, and followed them to a water hole, in the hope that they would drink. The very warm orange and red tones are due to the spotlight bulb from my vehicle being a halogen globe, and not a newer LED white light type emission. I could desaturate the colours, but rather enjoyed the warm reds. 2 Drinking Leopards
SONY DSC Male Leopard - Kashane
A young Leopard cub getting some attention from it's mother in a thicket where they had a hidden impala they were feeding on. Thanks Mom
Did not quite like me after a few minutes, this was the first time these cubs were exposed to a constant stream of vehicles over 3 days because of the impala kill the female had stashed in the bush. After this sighting, this cub was super relaxed. You're Too CLose
This youngster was running around early one morning, playing with it's mother and sibling. Leopard Cub Roaming
Early Morning mostly produces magical light, this morning was an exception, the light was Supremely Magical, and what better subject to capture than a Male Leopard feeding on a kill stolen from a female. Golden Morning
Took this image of a female leopard in the Sabi Sands, on a wet, rainy and overcast day. She was sheltering in the branches of a Marula tree, and I had to use a spotlight to get some vibrancy to this image. I prefer the warm red colours from a spotlight, rather than using a flash. Leopard Light
Colour version of the posted image, Leopard Emotions. I am still in two minds about which I prefer. Leopard Emotions - Colour
A female leopard, as wild as they come in the greater Kruger National Park, surprised and Amazed us all at the lodge that I was managing, when she decided to use the cave, created by a raised deck of one of the Guest Suites as a suitable den site for her cub. I had to close the room for a period of 3 weeks while mom kept her fur ball there, and was waiting for her to relocate the cub, so that I could board up the gap through which she sent the cub. This needed doing, as the female was a threat to staff and guests alike, often walking through the lodge 2 to 3 times a day to get to her cub. She eventually did move the cub, and did not return again to the lodge grounds with her cub. I took this image one day, holding a torch, peering through a brick sized gap in the pole structure that closed off the deck from the outside wild world. It is such a privilege to have a wild leopard, trust mankind so explicitly, that she would choose our man made environment as a safe haven for her vulnerable cub. Urban Leopard Cub
Kruger Park is a great place to photograph Leopards, and a person does not always need to go to the private reserves to get awesome images. This I managed to take, 3 minutes before Gate closing time, about 2 km from Letaba Camp, along the Letaba River. Just wished I had more time to spend with this Female. Sunset Leopard Kill
An unusual pose for a Leopard that I managed to capture in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve Sit up Straight
Mating pair of Leopards, with the female in the back, as they were staring into the distance at a disturbance that got their attention. Loved the deep winter/Autumn colours of the vegetation Repeat in Red
young Leopard Cub playing on a Termite mound Cub Descent
I enjoyed the beautiful light illuminating this Male Leopard as he strolled through a recently burnt patch of vegetation. I Loved the colour contrasts created. Burnt Leopard
Leopard cub hiding away and peering at me through the foliage. Eye of the Leopard
This Image was the very first Leopard Photo I took in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, in 2003. The afternoon sunset provided truly magical light to capture this proud young cat standing on a termite mound. My First
Female leopard photographed in the Timbavati game Reserve Leopard Portrait
A Leopard female known as Ntombi, that roams the Timbavati Game Reserve Beautiful Girl
A young male Leopard photographed in the Timbavati Game reserve in South Africa Most Beautiful
Male Leopard perched in a tree. Looking Leopard
I have a few images of this male leopard perched in a dead Leadwood Tree, after being chased there by some lions. I liked the lines in this composition, and thought that to get the most impact from this shot, a Black and White conversion was needed. I upped the contrast quite alot, and that gave the leopard a feeling of having been outlined by a pen, and really made it stand out from the rest of the picture. I was surprised by the outcome, which I really like Lookout Leopard
A Portrait of a young female Leopard Resting Leopard
I snapped this image only a few days before this beautiful female Leopard was killed by a Male, whilst trying to defend her cub. She was by far my favorite Leopard at that time, spending many many days and hours hanging around close to the lodge I worked at. She died from her injuries, inside the grounds of the lodge, having come there as a possible safe refuge from the wilderness and it's dangers. R.I.P Beauty
My Favorite Leopard of all time, Makwela, resting in a tree in which she had a Duiker kill stored for feeding. Resting Paw
Capturing the essence of a Safari was easy with an obliging young leopard posing in a dead tree as the sun was setting. Safari Leopard
One of the first times I saw a male Leopard that was to become a regular in my image library. This guy was called Wallingford Male, and he roamed and ruled the Western Sector of the Sabi Sand game Reserve. Looking at Me?
Male Leopard out for a walk early one morning on Safari Morning Walk
I loved the way that the young Leopard Cub seemed to melt in with the textures of the Marula Tree bark. Camo Cub
My first chance to photograph this young female leopard about a week ago. The light was already gone, so I used a spotlight to warm up the animal, perched wonderfully infront of a dream dark green shadowed background. Out of the Shadows
This young male leopard was sitting on a rocky outcrop in a dry river bed as the sun was setting. Golden Riversand
With the advent of Digital Manipulation, achieving results such as motion blur, radial blur, etc... are all just a few mouse clicks away using various software programs available. It is for this reason that this image please me more than most, out of my collection, getting the almost perfect radial blur results, hand held, on a wild leopard in its natural environment. Leopard Male
This is a very young, still dependent female leopard that roams the northern sections of the Timbavati game Reserve. She is, and no cliche meant, one of the prettiest leopards I have ever photographed. After seeing regular leopard sightings, a person can start distinguishing between a pretty, and a normal leopard, In my opinion, she rates as stunning. Lolita Leopard
Female leopard posing stunningly on a Termite Mound Termite Territory
This leopard female was staring at a herd of Impala, trying to decide if a mid morning hunt was worth the effort. Contemplating a Meal
I did not have the best original image to work with here, but instead of deleting the image, I attempted to get some mood out of the shot with post processing. This image I have tried my best to give an old school, grainy, faded, sepia type appearance. Want it to try and resemble an image that has been sitting in a box somewhere. Leopard Memories
This was a female leopard that drank water with a Male leopard, the images of which have been previously posted, called: "Night Thirst"I enjoyed the reflection that was created in the water through the use of a spotlight. Lady Leopard Lapping
A scanned image from many years ago, one of the first images I took of this leopard female who was to become one of my favorites. Hanging
From a series of images that has been posted before. This is an unseen shot just before the Leopard started drinking water Night Thirst 2
Lion Staredown
I have not posted any images for sometime now, and thought a good start would be this moody image of a Male leopard in a Leadwood tree. He was chased up this tree by a pride of Lions, in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa Solitude