Dreams Do Come True

[Gabriela Plesea]

Many years ago I made a drawing on a hotel notepad that is so similar with the image I am sharing with you now. This was long before I started my love affair with the Kalahari, I wasn't even living in Africa then. It was a dream of mine to see one of those beautiful felines out in the open and to have her all to myself for hours on end...

Dreams do come true, sometimes much later than expected. This simple frame was captured on my last trip to this magic land a few months ago. One morning I left the camp very early and drove for quite some time looking for subjects to photograph. At some stage I stopped to admire the pink light and those wavy tall grasses dancing with the breeze. I kept thinking I had been searching for predators the whole morning and instead found beauty and memories. Nevertheless I kept scanning the surroundings carefully for some time, did not notice this cheetah until she got up, she was so well camouflaged...

Nikon D5
Nikon 500 F4
ISO 640
F6.3
1/2500s

Thank you so much for viewing as well as for comments and critique on my previous images - I so appreciate it.

Kind regards,

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Gabriela, I think the 'etherial' feel of the grass/environment juxtapose to the Cheetah. Good call on the crop format and I like the look back and position in frame.

TFS
Steve

[Alex Becker]

Hi Gabriela, I really love the windswept grasses -- from the subtle colors in them to the DOF, it just works for me. The cheetah look back is great as is the crop. I like the mouth slightly open and the catchlights in the eyes. Congrats on the capture as well as making an idea reality. TFS

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Gabriela - It's nice when one's vision comes to fruition. This works extremely well for me too. Love the pastel colors of the grasses and the placement of the cheetah in frame. The look back pose takes it up a notch. Well done.

TFS,
Rachel

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Dear Gabriela,
This is a very pleasing image. Great content, visualization and execution of the shot. I like the colour palate and the HA.

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you so much dear Steve, Alex, Rachel, and Sanjeev

[Bretoteanu Dan]

Indeed its a dreamy image Gabriela. I like the posture of the cheetah and the colour tones. That strip of OOF foreground combined with the BG gives it such a moody look.

[haseeb badar]

Magnificently done Gabriela -- I am very late on this but cant stop my self from congratulating you on this wonderful piece of work .

TFS !

[Gabriela Plesea]

Thank you so much dear Dan and Haseeb