Cheetah

[Steve Kaluski]

A close-up of one of the three Cheetah brothers we came across early in the morning. They were just lounging about on a huge termite mound (hence the grey area) until one of the brothers got wind of a small, two day old Impala. Needless to say, the Impala did not make day three! The little bit of green foliage is annoying, but nothing much I could do.

Just toned down a little highlight in the grey, opened the shadow up a fraction in the corner of the eye/nostril.

Steve
Subject: Alert Cheetah on termite mound (Acinonyx jubatus)
Location: Selinda - Botswana
Camera: Canon MKIV
Lens: 500f/4 HH
Exposure: 1/1250s at f/5.6 ISO400 +0.33 stop compensation

[hennieloots]

Hi Steve - Marvelous image. Great sharpness and details in the face, hair - the rt sided eye is just amazing! I like the square comp here - and will learn from the use here if you don't mind - it is well balanced and I imagine hides a fair bit of the rest of the termite mound.
TFS
Hennie

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Steve - nice light and comp with your usual excellent detail. The eye is fabulous. Looks like the far side of the face might have been a little hot but you've kept it in check well. I might have gone for just a tad more dof in the field.

TFS,
Rachel

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Hennie, here is the FF so all I have used is the full width, nothing more to hide.

will learn from the use here if you don't mind

If we ALL can learn something from a posting every now and then, it has served a positive purpose.

Hi Rachel, these guys were always on the move so I wanted to keep a reasonable DOF/SS, far happier to up the ISO on the 1DX, so adding more DOF next time will not be an issue. Light was coming in from the RHS as viewed, a little hot, but not blown still has tone & detail.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Gorgeous Image Steve. Love that eye!! Feel sorry for the little impala though, but then thats life in the bush. I agree with Rachel reg a bit more DOF, but I guess for a tight portrait with emphasis on the eye, this works very well.
Cheers
Sanjeev

[Martin Dunn]

Lovely Steve, detail to die for. beautifully exposed - setting an example for the rest of us - again.

[Tin Man Lee]

I love the original crop, really connecting with the eyes and details.

[Carl Walker]

A super portrait shot of a cheetah Steve and yes fantastic work on the one eye. Always amazed at how much detail you can extract from a subject. Excellent Excellent!!

[Marc Mol]

Nothing not to like here Steve, good detail and side lighting, one small nit would have been an attempt to get at little more of his left eye showing, not always possible of course.
TFS

[dankearl]

The eye is really nice although I might eliminate the lower highlight.
I also like the DOF, a nice transition from very sharp to the soft fur on the neck and far ear.

[Andre Pretorius]

Stunning capture with lots of detail, as usual. He was not moving, 6,3 could have have the back of neck in focus with enough S/S. As they say-hind sight is the best sight! I prefer the OP. Stunning capture, Steve!

[Gabriela Plesea]

Steve, downloaded your image to play with the crop and my Apple started purring Your crop is still the best! Brilliant shot, makes me think of a particular Kalahari cheetah called Eleanor, whom I once had the privilege to watch as she chased some springbok in the riverbed-that focused look, the concentration...the cheetah got so close to the back of the Landy as she was stalking that I nearly dropped my equipment trying to follow her-I made a bit of noise then but she did not even flinch, so preoccupied she was with her prey...Your cheetah has that look on her face...Stunning capture, congratulations!

Kind regards,

[Loi Nguyen]

Steve, beautiful portrait with great details. The eye of ourselves makes this image. You handled the side lighting very well here. Not sure how much you could have gained with say an F8 as you must be very close. I love the image as is. Loi