Cheetah Rumble

Gallery: WildlifePosted December 9, 2011175 views11 comments

I might end up boring you with my cheetah images from our recent Kgalagadi trip...but oh well...

On this particular morning, we spent some time with a young mom named Gertie and her 2 adolescent cubs at a waterhole. While mom was intently gazing at some springbok further downriver (the riverbeds are dry in the Kgalagadi - at least for 99 out of 100 years

), the youngsters were providing endless joy to us and a few other visitors.

Mom would eventually hunt and kill a young springbok, much to my photographic dismay as I cannot show one image of the hunt...bad planning, bad anticipation, bad luck, whatever the reasons are...I am still fuming

I liked this frame very much.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II + 1.4xTC @ 700mm
f8.0 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO-720
Cropped slightly from top and sides

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 9, 2011 at 4:44 PM

Really sorry you had to settle for this image..

Delightful interaction of these playful youngsters. Love the flying sand and bristled nape, as well as the poisitions for both.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Oscar Benavides on December 9, 2011 at 6:03 PM

I like the image. The dust, the hair and the movement you caught gives the image a lot of dynamism. Good detail and control of de DOF. I'm sorry you missed the hunt but at least you saw and got some pictures of the cheetah.
Oscar.

Registered on January 2, 2011, 12 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on December 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM

I almost expect the cheetahs to actually move in this image. I absolutely love the bristled fur.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on December 10, 2011 at 12:28 AM

I like the way the cub on the left is about to land, while the nearer one is about to take off. The cloud of dust conveys the impression of action just right. A lot of the bristled fur that others mention is actually the mantle that cheetah cubs possess until they attain maturity.

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

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 10, 2011 at 3:50 PM

Hello Morkel never too many good pictures, especially of cheetahs. Great interaction of them playing, Dust flying, fur raised with excitement, Great Eye contact on the facing cheetah.

Too bad for the miss. An excellent reason to revisit and spend more time acquiring another series of the Cheetahs !!!!

Thanks for sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on December 10, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Nice action n playful image !
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on December 11, 2011 at 4:37 PM

Awesome ! Love the way they are poised again, immediately after making their move.

Registered on October 25, 2009, 110 Posts, 835 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Runco on December 11, 2011 at 9:38 PM

Nice behavior shot Morkel, thanks for sharing.

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on December 12, 2011 at 2:46 PM

Thank you so much for the kind comments, everyone!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on December 13, 2011 at 11:11 AM

Really, really nice.

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

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on December 14, 2011 at 7:25 AM

Beautiful action shot - especially the look on the face of the left cheetah makes it special...

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments