The Sumatran Tiger is the rarest, the smallest, and the only tiger left from Indonesia - the Bali and Javan tigers are extinct. This tiger persists in small and fragmented populations across the island of Sumatra preferring uncultivated lowland and hill forest centers with dense understory cover and steep slopes. They strongly avoid forest areas with high human encroachment and settlement. The Sumatran tiger hunts wild pigs and deer but take other prey opportunistically and can be a threat to people and livestock. This tiger is critically endangered - perhaps less than 1000 total - in the wild and in captivity.
This tiger is housed with four others at the Denver Aquarium in Colorado. Taken a number of years ago, I resurrected this image from my archives during a recent attempt to gain some order in my files.
This portrait has been cropped and processed lightly in Lightroom. ISO 400, 161mm, f/4.5, 1/200 sec
This round’s discussion is now closed! 12 comments posted
Gregory Waldron
Hi Darcy,
A very powerful image. Your crop works well, and I feel like I can just pet the tiger on the top of his head.
Best regards,
Greg Posted: 05/11/2023 17:10:26
Darcy Johnson
Hi Greg - You are always so positive. Thanks you for your comments. Best - Posted: 05/13/2023 20:28:18
Ingrid Lockhart
Hi Darcy. This is an excellent portrait of a beautiful tiger and the background could actually be in the wild which adds a nice dimension to the image. I love the sharpness in the tiger's eyes, mouth and whiskers. I have no suggestions for improvement. It's great as is. Ingrid Posted: 05/14/2023 15:15:07
Darcy Johnson
Hi Ingrid - Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Posted: 05/25/2023 16:58:47
Tom Brassil
Hi Darcy, great portrait, sharp where it needs to be and the background handled well. My only suggestion would be to crop (or re-crop if you have the data in the original) so that the Tigers face is not dead center,
Well handled and presented Posted: 05/17/2023 01:38:26
Darcy Johnson
Hi Tom - I can certainly take another look at the composition. I appreciate the suggestion. Posted: 05/25/2023 17:00:33
Xiao Cai
(Groups 5 & 63)
Hi Darcy, A beautiful image of a tiger! I just feel the focus is not so well, a little soft. I am not sure what kind of light it is, seems mixed with flashing lights, and the image looks a little foggy. Thanks for sharing. Posted: 05/23/2023 11:03:59
Darcy Johnson
Hi Xiao - The lighting was mostly indoor lights placed quite high. There were places where atrium windows bring in natural light, but I honestly can't recall if they were at this location or what the natural lighting was that day. I didn't use a flash and don't recall many folks using cameras - even their smartphones . . . it was mostly parents and kiddos. I don't get foggy at all on my computer. Thanks for sharing your observations. Posted: 05/25/2023 17:11:08
Syed Shakhawat Kamal
Hi Darcy,
Greetings my friend.
The portrait of the tiger is captured and presented well. The blurry background works well for the subject to be standing out. The story of the extinction is really sad but I am glad that this one is surviving. I hope they can make them breed and grow in their population. They are such a majestic animal.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal. Posted: 05/23/2023 20:09:21
Darcy Johnson
Hi Kamal - Thanks for your kind comments. I had no idea how rare this tiger was when I captured this image. Posted: 05/25/2023 17:32:36
Karen Davis
Hi Darcy,
Wow - what a beautiful tiger portrait. I wouldn't change a thing. Thanks for sharing him and the story of how they are struggling to survive. How sad...
Karen Posted: 05/26/2023 22:17:33
Darcy Johnson
Hi Karen - Thank you for the lovely comments. Posted: 05/27/2023 10:00:38
