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Thread: A Cheetah looking after her two cubs...

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    Default A Cheetah looking after her two cubs...

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    Here is a Cheetah looking after her two cubs that I photographed recently in Kenya.

    One cub was being fed whilst the other was leaning in towards mum for some warmth and protection.

    The Cheetah caught two hares for the cubs after this image was taken, so hopefully they will grow into young adults quickly and start to look after themselves.

    Canon 1DX, 400mm lens taken at f4, 1/2500 and ISO1600.

    More images from my recent trip to Kenya can be found on my blog ( link below )

    Cheers

    Austin

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Lovely image, Austin, and a real treat to see you posting again
    Love the alert pose and the classic position, the behaviour of the cubs adds a cuteness factor that speaks volumes.
    I do find the overall colour balance to be a tad on the magenta side as viewed?
    You must enjoy working regularly at these ISO's with that new toy

    Looking forward to more...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Austin - I too always enjoy your posts. Nice image of this cheetah family and I like the comp a lot. I also think there is a slight magenta cast, most evident in the cubs and dirt. I do find the bright spots in both the mom and cub's eyes slightly distracting. I don't think they are catchlights but could be wrong.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    BPN Member Steve Uffman's Avatar
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    very fine image IMO.....The interaction between the Cheetah moms and the two cubs is a great shot

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    Lovely image, I really enjoy the interaction captured. You enjoying the 1Dx?

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    BPN Member Andre van As's Avatar
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    Hi Austin
    A rare moment to capture in the life of a single mom cheetah! The pose tells an incredible story. Can you tell us a little more about the lighting conditions, time of day and crop percentage? While the detail is excellent - like the white tips on the tails of all three - the light seems a little flat - or am I imagining that?

    I love this shot

    Kind regards

    Andre

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Austin, seems the mara has been producing some excellent Cheetah images and I love the interaction on this one. Nice to have the on the mound too offer a clear sighting.

    OK my first question is why the high ISO and shooting at f/4, I feel you had the SS, so why not have gone for at least f/5.6 but perhaps f/8 to give yourself greater DOF? I agree even looking on the MBP there seems to be a slight cast, if you get the whites better it seems to resolve other issues, look at the soil too. Personally I might be tempted to crop a little off the top, but...

    Overall it's a cracking image, but for me, a bit more DOF and a slight colour correction and this would take it a few more notches to a close 10. Look forward to more Sir.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Hi all, Thanks for you feedback which is highly appreciated.

    @Morkel. The magenta cast is very obvious now you have pointed it out. Thank you.

    @Rachel. Nothing added to the eyes. The white spot in the lower part of the mums eye is what we might call "tired". It is some sort of mucus in the corner of the eye.
    @Laura. The 1DX is great. The ISO performance is the main improvement IMHO, which opens up new possibilities.
    @Andre. This was a morning session with the Cheetahs. It was quite overcast with rain at times, so yes fairly flat muted lighting.
    @Steve. I certainly favour using a very shallow DOF. I don't like too much detail in the background but agree going to f5.6 would have been fine with this image. I picked this image from the sequence I took because the visible eyes were pretty much at the same distance from the camera. I like your crop suggestion and will give it a whirl when I fix the colour balance.

    Thanks again for your critique. Highly valued and greatly appreciated.

    Cheers

    Austin

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Look forward hopefully to the RP if you have time Austin, thanks for the updated response.

    BTW Are you around over the next few days or away?
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    Excellent image Austin. Like the full family portrait.

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    Lifetime Member Marina Scarr's Avatar
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    What a terrific image, Austin. The behavior and intimacy portrays is over the top. Love the comp as is. Agree there's a slight magenta cast. Just love this!!!
    Marina Scarr
    Florida Master Naturalist
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    Love this Austin and I have been following your tweets from your trip. 1DX looks like it performs very well and only nit was the colour issue mentioned above.

    As a canon user, magenta colour correction is now pretty much a staple in my workflow.

    Sweet image and I know you have more from seeing the tweets of images from your 1DX screen while you were in the field. Hope you all had a good time.

    Jamie

    Last edited by Jamie Douglas; 10-10-2012 at 12:39 AM.

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    Thanks again for you comments and feedback on this picture. I have had a fiddle to try and remove the magenta cast and the latest version is hopefully attached to this reply.

    Please let me know if that is better / worse/ too much or too little.

    Thanks

    Austin

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Looks spot-on to me, Austin - but viewing on laptop as I'm away for the weekend...
    Morkel Erasmus

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  15. Thanks Austin Thomas thanked for this post

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