Speedy Siblings

[Morkel Erasmus]

You know by now I love my cheetahs, and - at least in the Kalahari - they seem to love me back :w3

I have only just properly started working step-by-step through my images from our 2011 trip to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and am finding some real keepers...:t3
At this particular sighting we spent about 90 minutes with the cheetah mother and her 2 cubs. I took in excess of 530 images, and after culling duplicates and bombed shots I will still probably end up with 300+ usable keepers...:eek3:

Techs:
Nikon D3s with Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II + 1.4xTC @ 700mm
f8.0 @ 1/800 SS @ ISO-560
about 80% of full frame, cropped for rotation and removal of rocks and the waterhole


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[Andrew Merwin]

Morkel, I like this a lot. The alert poses, the tongue, the tails, the DoF, IQ, the cheetahs looking in different directions, the hind quarters of the rear cheetah visible between the legs of the front cheetah. Great stuff.

[Steve Canuel]

Really like this composition. Each of the poses could stand on their own, together they compliment each other nicely.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

You are a lucky dude Morkel. Very well done, I am envious of your sighting! In my trip to Kenya and Tanzania in 10 safari days, I could only see 3 cheetahs but that too from a distance!
eager to see more of them from you!
regards
Sanjeev

[Gerald Kelberg]

Steve says it for me - two great poses in one! And an admirable keeper rate!

Thanks for sharing,

Gerald

[Giovanni Frescura]

Morkel
this is a new present of the Kalahari!!
The shoot and composition are very interesting and the light is nice!
Gio

[Mike Landwehr]

Hi Morkel, you certainly captured the beauty of these two magnificent animals with the wonderful side-lighting. I love the complimentary colors of the cheetahs and the background. The face on the front cheetah is beautiful, and the visible tongue is a plus. A real keeper! As long as you are cleaning up the distracting elements, I think I'd clone out the two light-colored rocks to the left of the front cheetah's head.

[Sid Garige]

Very nice image Morkel. Like the way how they are looking at two different directions. Perfect techs and very complementing background.

[Jamie Douglas]

These two look like a pair of teenagers. Is it just me or is this a little bright and soft in areas?

Great comp though Morkel and one day I will get myself out on an african safari.

[Rachel Hollander]

Morkel - sounds like a great sighting. I really like the comp and the poses. Well done.

TFS,
Rachel

[Marina Scarr]

Lovely capture, Morkel. Nice to see the one in the front licking its chops and "wagging" its tail. It's esp nice to see 2 in the frame. Have fun culling your images!!!

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks for viewing and the kind comments, folks :5

[Gen Benjamin]

Wow such a lovely image, it's all been said but worth repeating. Great composition, exposure looks perfect, the cats looking in two different direction can siometimes hurt an image but here I think it makes this one stronger.
Gen

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mork, love the light in this, and as Ive just seen cheetah on my recent trip with no light, Im extremely jealous. :w3 Their honey eyes stand out well, and good that the BG is separated enough from them. The central placement works well.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel, lovely image.

I really like the posture of the nearest cub, the curve of the tail, the look back and facial expression. All in all well scene & executed, although I think I would agree on the moving of the two stones in the BKG. :w3

TFS
Steve :5

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks a lot Gen, Steve and Stu. You know how I feel about 'removing' those stones, so they'll stay :w3