Bad Dream

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 23, 2014327 views13 comments

This "fresh" abandoned gnu wakes up for the last time, in Southern Serengeti.
EOS 1DX
200-400mm F4 with 1.4 ex at 420mm
F7.1
ISO 800
1/2000

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 23, 2014 at 8:43 AM

Very dramatic image! Capture well. I like that you have enough DOF to have the calf recognizable and the cheetah in focus. Not sure what you could do to improve this photo. Maybe try a vertical crop? This tells a story well. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 23, 2014 at 8:59 AM

Image tells the story well. The intent look on the cheetah is great. It must have been thrilling to witness this.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 23, 2014 at 10:48 AM

Super shot. The behavior and the way you rendered it is so classic as predator - prey. Hard light, but a super image. I wouldn't change a thing.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 23, 2014 at 11:41 AM

Nice job getting the angle showing both predator and prey. I think a vertical crop makes a lot of sense here.

Max

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

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on March 23, 2014 at 11:54 AM

Great perspective for this dramatic scene. I agree vertical would be a great choice. I wonder if you also tried it with the gnu baby in focus and the cheetah looming in the hazy background? It would have made a different effect. However, if given only one click I would have chosen to focus on the predator first!

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

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on March 23, 2014 at 11:55 AM

Very dramatic scene you captured well here. Must have been a great moment to witness this

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 23, 2014 at 8:57 PM

Intense action Ken. Have to say, I feel rather bad for the poor gnu, such is life however. This is an excellent application of a telephoto to compress the perspective. Excellent wildlife image Ken!

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 23, 2014 at 9:35 PM

Sweet behavior photo Ken, one of those moments worth a thousand words.

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 24, 2014 at 6:52 AM

very intense Ken, well captured. The onlt thing that would improve this for me is if there was a bit of colour in the cheetah's eyes.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on March 24, 2014 at 9:22 AM

Thanks everybody for your comments, which are much appreciated

I have seen quite a few Cheetah kills before, this probably the only one where I felt a little sorry for the victim.
I did try a vertical firs but felt the inclusion of the environment improved the image

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 24, 2014 at 10:57 AM

A great capture, in spite of harsh light.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 24, 2014 at 1:05 PM

Nice perspective here Ken!
I too would like it with less on the sides...

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

Comment posted by Joe James on March 28, 2014 at 8:45 AM

Superb use of DOF in this one Ken!

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