Got him

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 3, 2009706 views18 comments

On safari Kenya. The kill followed by the face licking behaviour of cheetah siblings was awesome. D300, A, 1/500, f9, 180mm using Sigma 150-500 5.0-6.3 lens, pattern metering,

Comments

18 comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on November 3, 2009 at 2:21 AM

Wow - great action shot you've got here! I love the extended claws, really conveys that the front cheetah's just about to strike. The two cheetahs lack separation, and the OOF FG is a bit bright, but in a shot as cool as this one those issues don't bother me much at all...

Registered on September 9, 2008, 77 Posts, 705 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on November 3, 2009 at 7:16 AM

Wow perfect perspective and perfect timing to capture the apex of the action! My only wish would be to have a little more space above the top cheetah. I first my eye did not understand the shape and realize we are seeing two predators in the frame, as their lined up bodies tend to merge.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Jorne de Bruin on November 3, 2009 at 7:30 AM

What a superb moment to witness. I remeber seeing a cheetah kill in Africa, but I sure as hell did not get any images of it! Like Lon my only wish would be slightly more room at the top, thats all. Great moment!

Registered on June 26, 2008, 178 Posts, 2136 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 3, 2009 at 9:44 AM

I didn't notice there were two initially either. Very unique angle. The first I've seen of a hunt from this angle. The two cheetah hunts I saw in TZ were unsuccessful and I arrived too late for another successful one, so I hope to see more from this sequence.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on November 3, 2009 at 1:10 PM

Great action !!! I wish that there was some space on the top.

Registered on February 21, 2009, 83 Posts, 428 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 3, 2009 at 1:43 PM

Wow, that is a unique image to capture Ray, well done! It is almost like the two are merely playing and the image has such an innocent look to it, yet it is such a horrific moment in real life.
I would love to see a shot of the siblings face-licking and hope you will post one next.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by JACK NEAL on November 3, 2009 at 3:05 PM

One of the best action shots that I have ever seen. Great work!

Registered on September 26, 2009, 131 Posts, 554 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 4, 2009 at 12:16 AM

What fantastic luck to witness such an event!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on November 4, 2009 at 6:41 AM

An awesome moment that you should cherish - not many people get to see this, especially not moving into their direction.

From a purely esthetic point of view I have quite a few nits (brightness foreground, two cheetah bodies merging into confusing shape, little room at the top), but sometimes an image is simply more about the action and as such can be just as enjoyable.

Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments

Comment posted by Sandipan Dutta on November 4, 2009 at 11:17 AM

I haven't realized that there are two cheetahs in the frame before I read your notes...:-)
Little more space at top would have made it a better image but it's all about getting the perfect moment and the action compensates everything in this image...

Registered on March 9, 2009, 171 Posts, 493 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 4, 2009 at 4:55 PM

Great shot Ray,
I too didn't see the second cat initially.
I guess in a perfect world I'd like to see them 2 feet closer putting the Tommy and the first Cheetah breaking into the light and the butt of the second into the shade.
FYI Guy, Cheetah claws are not retractable like other cats.

Neil Rossmiller
Hoytsville, Utah

Registered on October 30, 2009, 156 Posts, 749 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 4, 2009 at 8:11 PM

Hi Ray,

Fantastic timing and what a unique angle - very well done. While Marsel is right that there are many little things that could be nit-picked in this image, they are completely dwarfed/over-powered by the magic of the action you've captured here.

Cheers...thanks for sharing this incredibly unique shot...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on November 5, 2009 at 9:48 PM

OMG what a capture. Truely amzing.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on November 9, 2009 at 5:14 PM

Great action shot! This would be something to see in person. Congrats on the EP

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on November 9, 2009 at 6:27 PM

Fine action image. Those claws really tell the rest of the story.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on November 9, 2009 at 10:42 PM

Great action! Like how the cheetahs paw is right on the back.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 10, 2009 at 1:48 AM

Great action capture!
Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on November 13, 2009 at 8:34 PM

. Congrats on the pick!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments