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Sabyasachi Patra
13-04-2009, 09:30 PM
People familiar with Bandhavgarh National Park would know that there were two dominant male tigers in the tourism zone, B2 and Rajbehera male.

A new male from Bamerha dam, he is actually an offspring of B2, has now dethroned B2 and Rajbehera males after a lot of fights. I saw this male, a handsome guy of about 5 years of age, mating with the Sidhababa female.

It is tough to see and photograph tiger mating as it happens in dense forest. Was fortunate to photograph this one.

During the mating period the male and female remain close by and mate in frequent intervals. The mating time lasts not even a minute, from mounting to dismounting I have noted from 30 to 40 seconds. This time from mounting to disengaging and then the female rolling on her back, was timed at 47 seconds.

Sharing this image. Technically, not one of my best, as I don't like the steep angle. I prefer eye level perspective.

Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon EF 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/80 sec, full frame.

Look forward to your comments.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Dipankar Mazumdar
14-04-2009, 09:50 AM
amazing, simply amazing.....to see such an awesome sight itself is mindblowing, to be able to take a picture, at such close proximity ...out of this world.

Mrudul Godbole
14-04-2009, 12:24 PM
Great photograph.Very lucky to witness and photograph this.Would have made it a world class photograph if you could have possibly got it at a better angle and light conditions :)

Chitrita Chatterjee
14-04-2009, 12:27 PM
This is amazing...... ooofffffff......
cant think of any one else wh hs had this chance/priviledge....
congratulations Sabyasachi and Thank you for sharing this.....
this is an unseen sight and you brought it to us....

Kiran Ghadge
14-04-2009, 02:29 PM
what a lovely image Saby... damn lucky to witness and photograph this.
Thanks for sharing....

Ranbir Mahapatra
14-04-2009, 04:45 PM
A rare behavioural image.

The high line of shooting does give the image a different feel. Perhaps a voyeuristic feel? The poor couple could have done with some privacy.

Or maybe I am becoming too prudish! :D

Sabyasachi Patra
14-04-2009, 06:20 PM
After watching this image for a long time, I think this image has a different feel as opposed to an image from the eye level.

Look at the sinuous body of the tigress. I think it is very feminine. It would not have been visible in an eye level photograph.

The steep angle of this photograph would perhaps have made Doordarshan (of the '80s ) happy, as this hides more than it reveals.

The tiger was resting and the tigress got up and came near him. Within seconds they had forgotten my presence. I guess they have no issues with Privacy like us. :D I was hoping that they will mate, but had never expected that they will mate at that moment. So was caught offguard. :D

This image was clicked just before the lady growled and turned to take a swipe at the male with her fore paw. And the male was read to take evasive action.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Aditya Panda
15-04-2009, 01:01 PM
I don't really mind the higher perspective.... look at the girth of the male! Massive!

Udai Bisht
16-04-2009, 08:00 PM
Superb shot, Sabyasachi!