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Archive 2013 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)

  
 
eyelaser
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


I love night drives in Africa. You never know what will pop up and because visibility is limited it usually does so much more quickly and unexpectedly than in the daytime. In the old days (I never thought I'd ever use that term the rangers would use white lights to spot animals and photography was possible even though not great. Now, almost all use red lights which allows one to view but not really photograph at night.
So here are a few night shots of some of the leopards I have come across...almost all taken with flash and the first couple are slide film conversions (hear that Charlie...slide film!)
Eric

1 Poor reedbuck caught by a leopard with headlight lighting only
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Singita-2002-Leopard-Kill/i-VKjNTft/0/XL/singitaleopard5%282x0%20copybyheadlight-XL.jpg

2 Same scene...flash used
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Singita-2002-Leopard-Kill/i-jnd8LNf/0/XL/SINGITALEOPARD6%282X%29lyingdown-XL.jpg

3
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Singita-2002-Leopard-Kill/i-bJXtrx8/0/XL/singitaleopard26%28x%29%20copy-XL.jpg

4 Rangers often look for drag marks on the road as a sign of a leopard kill...now you can see how those occur
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Singita-2002-Leopard-Kill/i-K45jGjb/0/XL/singitaleopard29%282x%29carryingbushbuckaaway-XL.jpg

5 Crouching in the grass...we watched this leopard stalk prey for about 1/2 hour...unsuccessfully
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Leopards/i-8t6M7d9/1/XL/leopards-6-XL.jpg

6 One of my favorite leopard images of all time...taken with only side light from the vehicle. This little girl was only feet from the vehicle. We followed her for hours
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Leopards/i-TzvFh7t/0/XL/x-XL.jpg

7 We heard, more than saw the kill as it happened right in front of us but we had turned off the vehicle's lights to make for a fairer fight....the video is pretty cool as you hear lots of running but nothing visible.
This is a spring hare...not really a hare but a rodent...often referred to as a bush kangaroo as it hops about on its hing legs. The leopard quickly brought it up the tree as it was being tailed by a hyena.
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Leopards/i-MJv66gL/2/L/209V6722leopardwithscrubharekilla-L.jpg


8 One of my earlier images, from 2004...we really shouldn't have been out much past sunset but was lucky to catch this guy right before heading back to camp
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Botswana-2004/i-ZrvzrZv/0/XL/IMG_6364mombonightleopard-XL.jpg

Couple of added shots that were prompted by Don's mention of being careful with branches in the foreground with flash. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what was screwing up the pix until it dawned on me that it was the branches...so first is one at very high iso (for 2007 that is) and no flash and then a few minutes later when only a flash would suffice.

9 Leopard with remains of predated African Wild Cat...a very unusual prey item...the kill was witnessed by another vehicle
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Botswana2007/i-9TLZ5zV/0/XL/Africa%202007-498-EditCatabalism20x30-XL.jpg

10 I actually find this image quite disturbing as it shows the paw of the African Wild Cat about to be eaten...Something about what my son and I call "Catabalism" that is just not right.
http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Botswana2007/i-zrTfFWh/1/L/Africa%202007-520-EditCatabalism-L.jpg



Edited on Mar 23, 2013 at 08:08 AM · View previous versions



Mar 23, 2013 at 07:02 AM
douter
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Terrific set Eric, No 7 is my choice here.
Douglas



Mar 23, 2013 at 07:16 AM
birdied
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Wonderful set Eric! Definitely gives one reason to be afraid of the dark.

Birdie



Mar 23, 2013 at 07:43 AM
DonGut
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Great stuff. I agree that night drives are exciting. You can't do them everywhere and they really only follow leopards and lions and the rare caracal or smaller cats. Cheetahs and dogs are not allowed to be followed and the antelope etc are also off limits. None the less, you do see some of the nocturnal species on occasion and the big cats if lucky. It's a great way to see leopards. I like your flash shots here and with the newer, more powerful flashes and the "beamer" you can get some acceptable images; just watch for those branches in the foreground!
Don



Mar 23, 2013 at 07:54 AM
harshaj1
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Thanks for sharing many years worth of night safari shots. Fantastic Eric.
Harsha



Mar 23, 2013 at 08:07 AM
KCollett
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Educational, interesting, and all supported by quality images. Thanks Eric.


Mar 23, 2013 at 09:18 AM
Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Wow Eric, this set is rather educational. I'm fascinated with the night shots but my pick of the set is a day shot. The night shots really do convey a feeling of "yikes it's wild out there". Quite different from my warm bed were I usually spend my nights!!!

Tim



Mar 23, 2013 at 10:20 AM
CDaescher
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Definitely a very interesting post.
Thanks for sharing, Eric.
Chris



Mar 23, 2013 at 05:30 PM
BeeBalm
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Nice series .... Nine is awesome!! BeeBalm


Mar 23, 2013 at 07:34 PM
Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


A wonderful set, Eric. I really like them all- and I can appreciate why that one shot is among your all-time favorites.
Slide film? That must have been before the geek inventors admitted they couldn't take decent photographs using film- so they went all digital and ruined everything .
Cats killing and eating other cats is horrible- I agree.
But male bears killing and eating baby bears- even though the baby might be their progeny- that is truly disturbing to me. And for what? So they can have sex with the dead baby's mother.
That's carrying "horniness" to an extreme.
Charlie



Mar 23, 2013 at 07:52 PM
morris
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


2 and 8 are superb and the rest of the set is great as well Eric

Morris



Mar 23, 2013 at 08:00 PM
surfnron
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Another very nice, and interesting set Eric. 2 stands out, but 9 is my pick ~ Ron


Mar 23, 2013 at 09:18 PM
KirkB
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Once again, I can't imagine what a rush it is to witness and document these events Eric... so cool.
My favorites are "Crouching In The Grass" and 8 & 9... #9 is incredible.
Top shelf images Eric.

Kirk (Green with envy)



Mar 23, 2013 at 11:40 PM
David Leask
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Fabulous shots Eric, I'm totally in awe and impressed!
David



Mar 24, 2013 at 12:37 PM
waldr_p
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Some great shots here Eric.

Paul



Mar 24, 2013 at 01:13 PM
Chuck Eklund
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Very impressive.

Chuck



Mar 24, 2013 at 01:33 PM
tfoltz
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Very interesting, nice captures

-Tim



Mar 24, 2013 at 01:36 PM
Howard Kearley
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Oh my these are awesome!

Howard



Mar 24, 2013 at 02:17 PM
kmunroe
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


a very nice set indeed Eric


Mar 24, 2013 at 03:11 PM
canon.eos30d
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Night stalkers+2 added images (warning animal predation)


Stunning set, Eric.

- Tam



Mar 24, 2013 at 06:26 PM
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