p.1 #1 · My closest encounter...aka yelling in a whisper
Certain sightings will stay with me forever...this was one. The dark cloud of a "malfunctioning" camera had the silverest of linings in the closest encounter of my time viewing pumas. To set the scene, Don had spotted a puma amongst the rocks and we spent many hours watching the rocks in hope that the cat would come out. But after a quite awhile of not seeing it Don and the guide decided to reconnoiter and just make sure the cat was still in residence and hadn't taken its leave hidden by the huge rocks and boulders between it and us. After just a couple of minutes the puma appeared.....it walked out onto some boulders and looked back towards where Don must have been and then turned its attention to me. It was a surreal experience and truly one of the most exhilarating wildlife sightings I've had...mostly because I was standing, not sitting in a vehicle, and it was just the puma and me about 20-25 yards apart...neither of us seemingly afraid of the other and respecting the distance between us. It continued up and down some boulders as I "yelled" in a whisper to try to alert Don and Sara (the guide) to return...but obviously I didn't really want to raise my voice too much and it was only the 12fps that Don heard that made him realize what I was seeing. Fortunately he made it out in time to get some amazing images of the puma as it posed most regally. This was my dark cloud moment as I had inadvertently enabled a second focus point and so even though I thought I was focused dead on the puma's eye, in fact, I was over its shoulder and on the rocks behind....for 40 shots! I also wish I had the foresight to have videoed the whole sequence as it was as if this was a trained cat that had come out and posed as if in a staged wildlife documentary. The approach towards me and the stare through me is something I will never forget. I will let Don show the great image at the end as mine is a bit too soft. But here are a couple showing it when it turned its gaze towards me and then headed down and around.
Sorry for being so long winded but I wanted to set the scene.
Eric
p.1 #7 · My closest encounter...aka yelling in a whisper
I like the wider shot more, but a touch of cropping off the left and right wouldn't hurt, but the surroundings add to the shot, imo. In the last shot, the cat is definitely paying attention to where it is headed. I like that concentration and the stretched out pose.
p.1 #10 · My closest encounter...aka yelling in a whisper
morris wrote:
I'm thinking the fish did not get away Eric as these are terrific
Morris
Haha...we managed to reel in a few keepers...thanks
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MarkB1 wrote:
Wonderful captures, all the more for the story ...
Thanks Mark....it was a fun week...but that sighting was pretty cool
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JimLittle wrote:
Nice work!!
thanks Jim
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p.1 #11 · My closest encounter...aka yelling in a whisper
The photos are excellent at always, Eric, but your commentary in this particular post really makes the drama! Your words made me feel like I was there crouched in the rocks, with the wind blowing, just waiting in anticipation of a sighting. Maybe one day...
p.1 #12 · My closest encounter...aka yelling in a whisper
mitesh wrote:
The photos are excellent at always, Eric, but your commentary in this particular post really makes the drama! Your words made me feel like I was there crouched in the rocks, with the wind blowing, just waiting in anticipation of a sighting. Maybe one day...
Thanks so much Mitesh....it is difficult to express, in words, the emotion one feels as the sighting unfolds....those who have been there, and I know many have, understand what it is like to bear witness to something that affects one so viscerally.
Eric
p.1 #16 · My closest encounter...aka yelling in a whisper
PIXPHATIC wrote:
Fantastic set.....
True that your opening narrations had set the mood.Just loved it.
Thanks....it was one of those wildlife moments where the experience far exceeded the quality of the photography.
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OregonSun wrote:
Great shots Eric! I loved the story.
Heron
Thanks Heron...being there in that moment....it is still surreal.
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jfwoodman wrote:
WOW! Awesome Eric! Congrats on the amazing experience. So glad the focus point issue didn't rob you of the captures.
Jim
Thanks Jim...I still kick myself over the focus problem but just like that focus point I've tried to look past it
