Congratulations to eyelaser for winning Feature Thread of the Week with 3 votes - View Previous Winners
Pumas from a few different visits to the Torres del Paine region of Chilean Patagonia. Spectacular scenery and apex predators and hiking up and down bluffs and plateaus to follow them makes these trips one of the best wildlife adventures of my life. What you don't see is that these cats come within inches of you as they pass by. They are by no means domesticated but have learned to just ignore humans as either a threat or as a meal. It has taken quite some time for them to feel safe as they had been persecuted for ages by farm owners who shot them to protect their sheep. But now, wildlife tourism has provided a generous living and the cats regularly predate on guanaco, of which there are many. More and more farms are starting to avoid shooting pumas and are relying on other mechanisms including dogs to warm them off. It has been a rousing success and hopefully it will continue.
I think these are all new images (at least I hope they are).
Eric
Great images Eric love them all must be very exciting to be that close such powerful and elegant cats. What lenses do you for these shots if I might ask.
So very elegant...both the subjects and your photography.
Tom
Thanks so much Tom
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kalifornier wrote:
Wow! What a fantastic set!
Much appreciated
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Karl Witt wrote:
I see your photography as magnificent and your processing and presentation in these as outstanding my friend
Gosh #4, #9 and 10 are wonderful!! In fact it was quit easy to cast a vote for them all
Karl
You are too kind. Your support and encouragement is always so much appreciated.
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douter wrote:
Love, love, love, your black and white rendering, Eric!
Douglas
Thanks Douglas, I was very fortunate they line up that way and black and white just seemed the right way to go.
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morris wrote:
Super photos Eric. I love the environmental images.
Morris
Thanks Morris....it is such a beautiful setting....makes it much easier.
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Fantastic set Eric! #4 is just gorgeous.
That's encouraging news about the farmers new outlook of these magnificent critters.
I just found out last week that we have a least one mountain lion/cougar near our home. I've driven around looking for it but the chances of ever seeing it in daylight is slim to none.
Steve