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One of the highlights of my recent return to the Sth Luangwa was our discovery of this leopard cub den site tucked away in this large fallen log surrounded by heavy croton thicket.
Getting a clear shot is never easy with leopards particularly on this occasion. These were two 4 week old cubs, one male, one female, certainly the youngest I have witnessed in all my travels to the dark continent.
It took a while for the pair to gain our confidence, but when they did we were rewarded with some special images, a time not easily forgotten, especially when the very protective mother returned!

4.37pm
I'm vicious!
D3s 500VR 1/800s f/5.6 ISO1600. Almost F/F. Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia





5.51pm
You'll notice the branch has some bite marks and bark removed, they were using this as a teething ring!
Also note the cub's scratches top left corner.
D3s 500VR 1/100s f/4 ISO6400. Almost F/F. Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia





Here the very cute little female is pushing her brother around!
(The light is diminishing fast)

D3s 500VR 1/50s f/4 ISO6400. Almost F/F. Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia





4.45pm. (On another visit)
This young, skittish and very protective mum was none too pleased that we had discovered her den site with her two, 4 week old cubs.
With her tailing flicking nervously back and forth I had an uneasy feeling and sure enough she started snarling viscously and promptly charged our vehicle,stopping fortuitously at the fallen log!
Brian's (my guide) girlfriend, leapt from the front of the (no door) vehicle into the back,
thinking she wasn't going to stop, I lay behind the protection of my viewfinder :biggrin: and still kept my finger on the shutter firing away, I wasn't going to miss this (possible) once in a lifetime opportunity!
After this excitement, and everyone had collected their senses.........we got the message and promptly left.

*Much to my relief, I had heard from Brian a week later that they were observed from a much greater distance and found all were still at the den site and had not been scared on.

D3s 500VR 1/400s f/5.6 ISO800. Almost F/F. Sth Luangwa NP- Zambia





C & C most welcome

Cheers
Marc

What a sight to remember. Fantastic shots especially the last.

I envy the opportunity. The shots tell the story very well indeed.

The last is perfect. DOF and framing work, but the colour of the background match the leopard so well without diminishing separation.

Awesome images as always...those cubs are adorable

Wonderful nature pix here!

Whilst all of the images are wonderful to look at...that last image is just masterful! You have captured the big cat in a way rarely seen, and your technique was just perfect. The composition is just amazing and I could write 20 pages on it....the way it is divided up into thirds by the tree branch and trunk is one of the best examples I have ever seen of the 'rule of thirds' .....this would make a wonderful training aid and a great example of how a cliche can be so beautifully crafted as to rise above mediocrity. The leading lines in the image lead the eye around, and then into the subject....making it difficult to look away. The perfect trap! I also love that the cats legs are seperated from her body which adds a wonderful punctuation mark to the image. 100 out of 100 for the cat photo! Images like this will never die!

Matt. K wrote:Whilst all of the images are wonderful to look at...that last image is just masterful!

I really enjoy wildlife photography. You can't control what the animals do. You just have to wait for that moment. Sometimes it may never happen, but when you see it and then you managed to capture it it's a real buzz. I can imagine exactly how you felt when you saw you had caught that frame. Well done!

Wow! This would have been a scary moment! Did you guys take ahem... a gun etc for protection??

As for the pics. As usual,

Great shots!

Great shots! Specially the 2nd and last.