Silly Settings?

Ken,

I like this. It is sharp, the colors are good and I like the background. The Cheetah does have a "sleepy" look. A more alert expression would have added to this image. I was surprised to see that this was taken with a 100-400. I also have a 100-400 and I have a love hate relationship with it. The 100-400 is capable of some remarkably sharp images, such as yours here, but it can also be a heartbreaker. For me, this lens does poorly with low light levels. It also helps to stop down. I noticed your post is at f11. It looks like this was a few years ago and you have moved on to the 200-440, which I hope to do soon also. Great shot.

No idea of what Ken, the settings are spot on!

Worked quite well! You have admirable depth of field control, with the entire head in crisp focus and yet (even with f11) the background remains nicely smooth. Given the shadows of the eyelids fall directly across the pupil, I am assuming the "sleepy" attitude is the cheetah's response to peering into quite bright light.

Even a broken watch is correct twice a day, you got this just right. I don't mind the partially closed eyes, with the slightly lowered ear carriage he looks a bit aggressive and just a little sinister.

Thanks everybodu for your kind comments.
Jerry,

I agree that the 100-400 was not the sharpest pin, certainly mine was not. I suppose that is why I used F 11 although it now seems somewhat excessive

Although it was a long long time ago I think the Cheetah was having a rest in a termite mound very close to our vehicle

Hi Ken,

I see nothing silly about the settings - especially if the lens is one that isn't quite as sharp as you'd like. Now if you had backed up some and then used f11 (and the background started coming into focus) - well...that would be less optimal!

Technically it's a solid shot, but I have to say I'm a bit ambivalent or torn about the eyes and the sleepy look. I don't know cheetahs well - or the exact details of their coloration - but I am wondering if the image is perhaps a tad too warm? The thing that makes me say that is the complete lack of white in the lighter regions...should they be a bit whiter (as opposed to light brown/light orange)? Like I say tho'...I really don't know cheetahs and perhaps the WB is spot on here.

Cheers...

Brad

Brad,

You have raised an interesting point regarding the "warmth", I have just looked at the EXIF and it was taken early morning at 06.11, and I would imagine that it was quite red. Nevertheless to be "true to life" I think the whites maybe should have been a little whiter