Stalking Cheetah

Gallery: WildlifePosted July 11, 2012226 views14 comments

Backing off from Mana Pools just for a second - here's another cheetah image from what is now my 2nd favourite place in Africa (behind Mana Pools

) - the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

This is especially for Max Waugh who is headed there soon!

I was able to predict the movement of 2 young males quite accurately and positioned my vehicle for this shot as they were stalking something unseen...coming up the dry Nossob riverbank.

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II + 1.4xTC @ 700mm
f9.0 @ 1/800 SS @ ISO-400
Crop from top and right, about 85% of full frame

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 11, 2012 at 8:20 PM

Thanks, dude. Keep posting this stuff. Now that most of our worrisome planning is out of the way I actually have time to get excited.

Some really nice symmetry here. The raised paw aids the sense of movement, though I have to admit I didn't immediately notice that detail since the shrubbery is in the way. Great background too. Your planning paid off once again!

Max

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on July 11, 2012 at 8:44 PM

Lean, mean machine. Wouldn't want to be what he/she is staring at! Fantastic dream shot.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on July 11, 2012 at 9:27 PM

Awesome shot Morkel! I love the head on shot and the only nit is that pesky shrub slightly obscuring his raised paw, but then again if we wanted portrait shots we'd go to a zoo. You captured the intense look in his eyes perfectly.

I'll tell you that your Mana Pools and Kgalagadi shots are making me re-think our planned July 2013 trip to Kruger. Too many places to go and too little time and money.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 11, 2012 at 10:22 PM

I really like the intense look in the eyes. Great action image. No nits at all with this image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on July 12, 2012 at 11:15 AM

Excellent stuff, Morkel. Looks three-dimensional. Great stare and perfect pose. Looks like he's heading for you!

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Wick Smith on July 12, 2012 at 1:57 PM

Great shot - super sharp.

Registered on June 12, 2009, 91 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on July 12, 2012 at 7:36 PM

A dandy. Love the pose. I suppose the stick could have been off to the side a bit, but this is superb as posted.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 12, 2012 at 8:58 PM

A compelling front-on view

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on July 13, 2012 at 6:22 AM

Thanks so much for the comments, guys...

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

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on July 13, 2012 at 7:32 AM

Wonderful image Morkel.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on July 14, 2012 at 9:33 AM

Hey Morkel,

Very solid technically and compelling to look at - well done. I quite like the inclusion of the small bush at its feet and don't mind that a bit of it is overlapping the raised foot (I still noticed the uplifted paw right away). An infinitesiimally small nit is the out-of-focus branch near the bottom left corner, but that's getting REALLY picky!!

Cheers...thanks for sharing this!

Brad

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

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on July 15, 2012 at 1:24 PM

Fantastic eye contact, low angle and light. Nice one Morkel !!

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on July 21, 2012 at 1:48 AM

The intense look, the raised right front paw, the blurred bg - superb!

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on July 26, 2012 at 6:01 PM

Thanks a bunch guys!

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