The Global Photographer

Bicycle Crossing Male

Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa, April 2008

Canon 1DsMkIII, 400mm f/4 DO IS, 1/80sec @ f/6.3, ISO 1000

 This was my last frame of the day, as the light had already faded to a point where my shutter speeds were getting woefully too slow for a sharp photograph. I had to use a bean bag on the dashboard of our Land Rover to be able to shoot at 1/80 of a second. We decided to drive ahead of this beautiful male leopard to try to include a shot of another vehicle that was coming to the scene as we were leaving. I love the body language of the guests in the other vehicle, which indicates that this is not a big deal and that leopards are seen all of the time walking down dirt roads. Well, it is a big deal, but after a few days at Mala Mala, you really do have a chance to get some nice moments with these absolutely gorgeous predators.