Cheetah with kill, early morning

[Steve Kaluski]

This was taken shortly after leaving camp, (looking at the EXIF 6.48am), as it was still quite fresh and there was quite a heavy due on the drown. This female took about 10 minutes before she relaxed, constantly scouring the horizon for any other competitors and to drawn breathe, as her heart pump & raced from the chase. Slowly she settled down and began to feed, knowing she had little time, as the echoing sound of Hyenas were not far off.

Steve

Subject: Female Cheetah with kill, early morning (Acinonyx jubatus)
Location: Masai Mara
Camera: Canon MKIII
Lens: 500f/f/4 - handheld on bean bag
Exposure: 1/500s at f5.6 ISO400 0 stop compensation
Crop: Slight cropped for presentation (original capture horizontal)

RAW convertor, exported to Adobe PS: Levels/Curves/USM/Saturation/15%NR/USM

[Dumay de Boulle]

Great light and the intense look on the Cheetahs face is great. Good HA on the prey. Colors look great and the IQ as always looks great. For my tatse I would like a sliver off the right and added to the left for comp. Nice one Steve

[Steve Kaluski]

Cheers Dumay, took a little time to try and achieve the right feel, re light, but hopefully got there. This has been sitting in the wings for a while, as this was quite close to one hilary posted a while back. :w3

Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

Love this one Steve...you managed to get a very low angle considering you were on a vehicle, the light is fabulous and the sighting speaks for itself. :bg3:

I too find myself wishing for a tad more space on the LHS but not a biggy, would love this one in my portfolio. :cheers:

[Ofer Levy]

Excellent behaviour captured! Agree with the comments regarding more room to the left.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi guys, I missed this off the intro, this is FF sadly. :2eyes2:

Oh for a 200-400, having got the vehicle IMHO just right, I just didn't want to move again and disturb the Cheetah, another 10mm or half an inch extra to the LHS probably would have been ideal.

I speak to Harry Potter and see if he can conjure up some additional space perhaps. :w3

Thanks again.

[Rachel Hollander]

Steve - Great image with usual high IQ. Agree would have preferred more room to the left but certainly understand the constraints. The HA of the prey and the line of blood going down the head really add to the strength of this image.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Additional space to the LHS, best I can do guys. :bg3:

[Morkel Erasmus]

Already much better (it was a cracker anyhow, now just more 'balanced' :w3:5)...

[Dumay de Boulle]

You just made a great image greater!

[Brendon Cremer]

Stunning image, nice warm colours and great detail, lighting handled very well:S3:

[Hilary Hann]

This is lovely and much nicer light than I had. Great, intense pose by the cheetah and nice background.

[Tin Man Lee]

Stunning shot! The eyes from them created drama. Love the light.

[Steve Canuel]

Great shot Steve. Light, color, detail are all there as well as eye contact with both. Couldn't ask for a better head position from the prey on this one. Repost with the touch of extra space wins in a close one :bg3:

[Austin Thomas]

That is the cruel side of nature. Repost lifts this one Steve.

Well done.

Cheers

Austin