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Thread: Cheetahs on Trek

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Cheetahs on Trek

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    I have barely had time to process some new images this year, but here's one I got round to last night while preparing entries for a competition. This female cheetah, called "Kakenya" by the folks in the Mara Triangle, was leading her litter of 5 cubs (only 3 in the frame here) across the vast savanna in search of dinner. The zebras in the background made sure not to let them out of their sight (I always enjoy seeing how prey species react to predators nonchalantly strolling past them).


    There's so much going on here, and as usual I tried to capture some context in my frame. The spots of the cheetahs vs the stripes of the zebras, the lighter grassland vs the shadowed backdrop of the Oloololo Escarpment, and the distinct shape of the Balanites trees so typical of the area - all working together to tell the story of this moment frozen in time...


    Techs:
    Nikon D4s (courtesy of Nikon South Africa)
    Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
    f8.0 | 1/1250 SS | ISO-900
    Morkel Erasmus

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  2. #2
    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Sweet, very sweet image Morkel...those trees in the BG remind me of a Pierneef painting, very picturesque scene and I love your thinking.

    Lovely conversion and I like the presence of the zebra assessing the intentions of the cheetah as she strolls nonchallantly in the company of her little cubs. The BG - peppered with little trees - appeals to me tremendously, also good composition and presentation - delightful image Morkel!

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel - Great scene. I love that the cubs are sort of defiantly leading the way but the one is looking back to make sure mom is following. The zebras as observers certainly add to the scene as do the trees in the bg. My first impression is that the image is a little dark but let's see what others say.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
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    I'm liking this B&W animalscape, you needed to save this for next month, but you have others at your disposal I'm sure?

    2 small issues for me here are the vignetting and the central placement, it really cries out for some more room on that RHS, I don't suppose you have any?

    Loving this all the same mate!



    The deadline for Nature's Best is tomorrow as I'm sure you know


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    Morkel, this is a very nice animalscape! The conversion works beautifully and I like the cheetah cubs moving ahead in the clear and those on looking Zebras add so much interest. Well done.

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    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
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    Love the composition the blacks look a tad heavy to me but I am no expert on monochrome. The trees and zebras look quite grainy to me and the tree trunks look ghostly - was this intentional - I like it but the trees keep pulling my eyes from the cheetahs.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, great to have all the elements working together, well timed & executed.

    Personally I'm not sure if the B/W route adds or not, be nice to see the colour for comparison. Agree on having a hint more to the right, gives more room for the cubs to walk into and gives a little more space for the tree too. Is it the heat haze that have given the 'moiré' effect on the zebra & trees?

    TFS
    Steve

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel , really like the overall content of the image with various elements telling a story . So i think you did well with this.
    I like the somehow flat tone combination in parts . I am just wondering about the tonal differences in the subjects and the FG , where light and dark are lying close together . Is that due to partly cloudy sky or is it a result of D&B work.
    For me the two babies in front are a tiny bit too dark for my taste . But this just a minor thing. I really like the soft grey tones in the BGK making the FG really standing out .

    Overall a pleasing image to my eyes .

    TFS Andreas

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    Lovely image design. Nice comp and I like the thought that went into this one!

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  18. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks a bunch, folks.
    It's indeed heat haze that caused the weird look to the BG and trees, and I quite like it in this instance.

    I might have some room on RHS, cropped like this as it had more balance to me with all elements taken into consideration - will have a 2nd look!
    Morkel Erasmus

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