Siberian tiger

This shot was recently used as the opening spread for a portfoliointerview East & West Magazine (the in-flight magazine forCathay Pacific and Lufthansa) did with me. You can read the wholeinterview on my blog.

The image was shot at a large tiger reserve in the Northeastern cornerof China, close to the Siberian border. I love big predators, and thetiger has always been high in my top ten of the prettiest ones. As 99%of all the tiger images we see are Bengal tigers (Panthera tigristigris), mostly shot in India, I decided to go for the largestsubspecies of tiger, the Siberian tiger (Panthera tigrisaltaica). It has a thick coat to protect it from the cold,distinguished by a paler golden hue and fewer stripes.

In the past, tigers were found throughout Asia, from the Caucasus andthe Caspian Sea to Siberia and Indonesia. Today the range of the tigeris only 7 percent (!) of what it used to be. Furthermore, within thepast decade alone, the estimated area known to be occupied by tigershas declined 41 percent. :-(

I took this shot in a similar way as you'd do in India; from an openvehicle. The only difference being that it was -38C/-36F. I've neverbeen so cold in my life.

Nikon D2Xs, AF-S VR 200-400/4.0, 1/800 @ f/8, ISO 320, bean bag

[if you would like to join me on one of my photo tours and workshops,please have a look at my website]

Excellent image. Bravo

A magnificent cat and you've captured it perfectly. Thanks for sharing... Mike