Have just returned from another fabulous photographic safari in Ndutu/Serengeti, with one of the highlights being this cheetah mum and her 4 six week old cubs.
Here they hitch a ride on mum's back to get a better view with mum intently checking out another female cheetah in the distance, both parties wanted no trouble and each kept their distance.
As anyone who's tried to photograph a mother with multiple cubs, it's always frought with frustration in trying to get everyone's attention, here it was mum partially hidden by foliage who didn't read the script
On this occasion this was as good as I could get with all looking my way.
In the 3 weeks I spent in the area, I got to know this mother and her cubs quite well.
At one stage a few days after this we found her once again early morning desperately calling her cubs, as we saw many hyena in the vicinity we had grave doubts as to whether any of the cubs had survived the night.
Much to our delight and after a few hours of daylight searching she was reunited with ALL four once again, a truly enlightening event as I shared the whole agonising experience with her.
One very special and capable mum for sure!
D4s 500 f/4VR 1/1600s f/6.3 ISO2000. Slight crop for comp, bean bag from front pax seat, levels, curves, mid tone adj in ACR PSCC.
Hi Marc- Welcome back! Those cubs are absolutely adorable and great that you got them all to cooperate. It's too bad mom didn't get the stage direction and I also wish they were in the light rather than shadow but still would be stoked to have a sighting and image like this.
Gotta love the high cute factor here!
Pity about mom's face but you can't have it all - the poses/expressions of the cubs are very pleasing.
There's some blue and magenta coming through in the shaded parts of the cheetahs to my eyes, Marc - easy fix as you know.
Looking forward to more...
Awesome foursome of cubs and I am delighted to learn that you had an amazing trip! My eyes are on the little ones so mom behind the bush not a deal breaker. I too detect a tad of magenta you might want to fix, but I am sure you are pleased with those cuties all posing for you so sweetly and look forward to see the rest of the images - bring them on