Cheetah Hurdle

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 26, 2012227 views10 comments

One of my favourite frames from our visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in November 2011. This cub and its sibling were playing and exploring all around the waterhole as their mother scanned the dry riverbed for some breakfast.

Here the energetic youngster is seen scaling a fallen tree.

I am going on a quickfire trip to the Kruger National Park later this week and will be back in circulation by Monday. See you on the flipside!

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II + 1.4xTC @ 700mm
f8.0 @ 1/1000 SS @ ISO-640
full frame as shot save for very slight crop from the left

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Dottie Short on March 26, 2012 at 5:19 PM

I like the monotone color pallet and the action that the Cheetah cub exhibits. The image also speaks to me about the hot, dusty, and dry environment. Large photo shows fine detail. Really nice shot Morkel.

Registered on April 12, 2010, 61 Posts, 375 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Coskun on March 26, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Very cool image, I like the action of the cheetah and the light is just right. Lot's of detail in the large version. When I saw the thumb I thought it was taking down a tortoise.

Registered on October 31, 2011, 170 Posts, 1240 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on March 26, 2012 at 10:09 PM

Great lighting and great fur detail, Morkel! One thing that bothers me, though, is the oof twig that seems to run up the cheetah cub's throat. Also, it would have been great if the entire bg was brown; the dark area in the right upper corner seems to disturb the balance of the image, imo. Maybe, you could clone it out? Or, maybe, I'm just being too picky?

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

Comment posted by Anand Narayanan on March 26, 2012 at 10:30 PM

From the title and thumbnail, i was expecting it to clear the hurdles

Great action nevertheless, looks like its about to pounce on something. Awesome detail on the cat and in the shadows ! Nice look at the running spikes as well.

Too bad about the poking log in the foreground

I think you could crop a little more of it (upto the white spot) and still preserve the feel of jumping from a height.

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

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on March 27, 2012 at 2:02 PM

Not sure about 'scaling a fallen log' here Morkel, more jumping over.

Nice detail & colour, but the log vertical below the neck is annoying, but can live with the OOF branches RHS in the BKG.

Enjoy, will be holding the peace elsewhere when I have time, at present.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on March 28, 2012 at 5:38 AM

Very cool image, Morkel.. The comp is lovely, as is the general tone of the scene. If anything the OOF branch under it's neck is a distraction, but that was out of your hands.

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on March 28, 2012 at 11:29 AM

Nice action shot Morkel! I like the well visible claws. Two small things would have improved this further IMO, but these are both very minor and beyond your control. The OOF vertical tree trunk in the BG leading to the head is a slight distraction IMO. Regarding the pose of the animal I would have preferred to see a little separation between the front and hind paw, which are now overlapping. Like i said I am nit picking here.

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

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on April 3, 2012 at 12:23 PM

Lovely shot Morkel. I can see why you like it. Your image is sharp and well exposed. Nice behavioral image. Well done.

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 3, 2012 at 9:02 PM

Excellent shot all the way around for my tastes Morkel. Love the action over the log as well.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on April 8, 2012 at 6:45 AM

Thanks for the kind comments, folks...

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