I have followed Steve's "saving for web" instructions carefully with this image, hoping that I'll get a better quality in my posting. Fingers crossed. :p
20D; 75-300mm @ 120mm; f11; 1/800; ISO400; hand held; full frame Taken in the Masai Mara, 2005.
This posting quality looks pretty good on my cal monitor Hilary.;)
Good detail, comp & lighting here, would just try and lighten the exposure on the eyes a tad.
After a single fleeting glimpse of a Cheetah mum and her 6 cubs in all of 3 weeks in Botswana last Sept, I'm looking forward to seeing more Cheetahs in the Mara come this Sept/Oct.
TFS
It seems you were quiet close. Composition is fine. The blacks look at bit more black especially at the right side of the nose (left in the frame). It is not easy to get the eyes of the cheetah, in side lighting conditions. Opening up the shadows will help. Thanks for sharing.
Marc … you would be very unlucky not to see cheetahs in the Mara. I hope you come across many.
Thanks Harshad and Sabyasachi, yes I was very close. This cheetah was one of the ones who jumped onto the bonnet of our 4x4 so I was taking the photograph from about 2 metres away through the open roof. Pretty cool.
Hilary - I like this image and agree with the others that if you can lighten the shadows in the eyes the color in them will come out more. I had the same experience of a cheetah jumping on the hood/bonnet of our vehicle while in the Mara. It's an amazing experience but really shows how habituated to the vehicles the cheetah are.
Hi Hilary Quality is good, does make a difference with Steve's directions .. he would be proud ... will be back in just over a week, is on a trip now !!
I love the overall feel and detail Do like the darker side of the face since it adds to the feel, would only lighten the transition by lightening just a tad !!
First thing I notice when looking at a new image is the feel, does it do something for me and this does !!!