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Cheetah
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Cheetah

by David Sewell

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted October 2, 201191 views8 comments
I had not seen a cheetah for very many years, in fact this is my first wild one since 1997. This well-fed male was laying under a tree in very contrasty conditions in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. I have toned down the background a lot, and have also cropped close to the animal as there were a lot of twigs off to the left. Does it work, or would you rather see a bit more of the environment?

Thanks for looking.

David

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Neil Burton on October 2, 2011 at 2:06 PM
It is a nice portrait, I can live with close ups if there is a good reason for it (or excuse) ;) I can see the BG is toned down but not much else you can do in such situations and you did it quite well, bravo.
Registered on September 16, 2010, 26 Posts, 461 Comments
Comment posted by John Robinson on October 2, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Looks ok to me David
.I got one similar last week - in the local safari park ! :biggrin: :biggrin:
Cheers
JohnR
Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Ellard on October 2, 2011 at 4:37 PM
I like close ups, and love cheetahs. (and the ruaha, the first place in africa i ever went). this works well though i can see the difficulties you had in the background, but i think you have coped with it well. :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 17, 2010, 60 Posts, 634 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Phillpotts on October 3, 2011 at 2:51 AM
I think this is a great portrait and works very nicely as is. Plenty of detail and the colour and contrast look good. :toast:
Registered on January 21, 2009, 16 Posts, 62 Comments
Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 3, 2011 at 4:46 AM
Certainly looks like he has a full stomach, I bet at a time like this you could have given him a run for his money David ;^)

While of course it's difficult to judge without seeing the distractions you've seen in the full frame, seeing the Cheetah leaning as far forward as he is makes me wish he had more space on the left to look into. Nevertheless, I still love this image for the colour and detail, as well as for knowing how thrilling it is to come across such a magnificent animal out in the wild!
Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments
Comment posted by Phil Mclean on October 3, 2011 at 5:39 AM
Very nice portrait David.I think it works as presented.The upright slim..ish pose of the cheetah fits well with the slimmed down format.

Phil. :toast:
Registered on March 16, 2010, 30 Posts, 153 Comments
Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on October 4, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Works for me as posted, David. No nits :toast:

Andy...
Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments
Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on October 5, 2011 at 4:02 AM
Works for me. Lovely portrait. :smile:
Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments