Cheetah and one cub + Repost

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 3, 2009247 views14 comments

This image took 3 hours of waiting to acquire. When we arrived on scene, there were 9 vehicles in a semi circle around this Cheetah and her two cubs(one out of frame) with a grey overcast flat light. As the evening wore on we ended up being the only ones left. A break in the cloud cover at the horizon during sunset provided the catch light and warm glow as they intently watched a lioness pass 100 yards away. Our driver was verbally reprimanded for being late out of the park.
Masa Mara, Kenya
Canon 1N w/canon 400 2.8
exposure unrecorded

Thanks for looking
Neil Rossmiller

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Ray Anderson on November 3, 2009 at 6:34 PM

Worth the wait.

Registered on November 18, 2008, 4 Posts, 4 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on November 3, 2009 at 6:37 PM

Beautiful image, you certainly made the most of the light. They are posing for you real nice too. My only nit would be the leg and tail cut off on the left side, I wish there was more space off to that side since both subjects are looking in that direction.

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by kiran khanzode on November 3, 2009 at 7:04 PM

Fabulous light here, well done. Agree with Scott on the framing.

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

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 3, 2009 at 8:07 PM

The problem I ran into trying to do that was the second cub started coming into frame and if I included him the composition failed. Lens change or vehicle movement at that point didn't seem like good options. Lemons to lemonade I guess.
thanks for your input
Neil

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

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on November 3, 2009 at 11:59 PM

I had the same comment to make about 'making' more room to the left of the frame, but read your comments. "Lemons to lemonade"! I like that!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on November 4, 2009 at 12:04 AM

Gorgeous lighting and poses. I would crop some off the right.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on November 4, 2009 at 6:17 AM

Very nice. You're lucky to see a sight like this, and even more that the grass was low. The framing is very unfortunate, and I ditto the cropping suggestion made by Kah-Kit - it won't solve the cut-off legs and tail, but it will bring more balance in the shot. I'd try to keep the same aspect ratio and also lose some of the bottom.

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

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on November 4, 2009 at 9:04 AM

This was a great opportunity, the framing has limited it's appeal. ( But that's the way we learn)
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on November 4, 2009 at 9:15 AM

Hi Neil,

Well done hanging in there and finally getting the "right" light! There's little more to add beyond what the others have offered and it's too bad that the situation didn't allow you to capture the entire adult cheetah. I'm in agreement with Marsel's cropping suggestion.

Cheers...thanks for sharing...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Darren Colello on November 4, 2009 at 1:47 PM

Neil, I like this very much. It has an intimate and engaging feel to it. Very well done and congrats on this sighting. Cheetah are magnificient.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on November 4, 2009 at 1:50 PM

Gorgeous lighting on these beautiful cats Neil. I also like the low POV. I do echo previous comments about the comp and the cut-off feet, very unfortunate.

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

Comment posted by Neil Rossmiller on November 4, 2009 at 4:10 PM

Thanks everyone. Here is a different crop as per suggestions.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on November 5, 2009 at 9:42 PM

OMG OMG. This is precious. The light is so perfect as well as the eye contact and catch lights. I wanna take them home. So worth the 3 hr wait.

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 10, 2009 at 10:10 AM

I also believe it was worth the wait, wonderful shot, I like the cropped repost the best, it really makes your eyes go right for the cheetahs. Way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments