The Mara Six, Cheetah cubs in a row - Masai Mara

[Austin Thomas]

Hi all,

Here are the much talked about "Mara Six". The Cheetah cubs that were growing up in the Masai Mara region of Kenya this year.

The cubs were waiting for their mum to call them down as she was "preparing breakfast".

This is a small crop from the left and right hand side but a large crop from the top and bottom to create the pano.

It was great to witness but I wish I could have been closer and for a little more light as it was pretty early in the morning when this image was taken.

More images of these Cheetahs and from Kenya 2010 are available HERE

Canon 1dMk4, 500mm +1.4x, f5.6, 1/800. ISO1000

C& C most welcome.

Cheers

Austin

[Gary Hamilton]

Fantastic image, Austin. What a thrill it must have been to have all six posing like this for you (only one of them remembered to smile, though:p. Image seems to have a blue cast on my monitor. You may want to play around with that. Still, I can't get over this beautiful cheetah "lineup." Cheers.

P.S. Great BBC piece you shared with us recently.

[Hilary Hann]

Priceless image, love the cub with the open mouth. Shame the quality isn't shown off to advantage at this size.

[Todd Frost]

Amazing to get them all gazing your direction. Wonderfully seen and executed.
TFS
Todd

[Marc Mol]

To get them ALL looking at you is one thing, but to have then ALL lined up on the same focal plane puts this over the top Austin, a great capture well done.
The pano crop ideally suits here.
TFS

[Ken Watkins]

Austin,

As they say in Zimbabwe WHAT A PRIVILEGE

This could even be unique, in the real meaning of the word.

[Lorant Voros]

Stunning. Having them lined up like this is pretty amazing. Hats off and thanks for sharing.

Lorant

[Stu Bowie]

BRILLIANT Austin. The similar poses from all six, and all looking at you, you certainly nailed this. Very well captured.

[Harshad Barve]

I am so jealous to see this Austin , The BEST image of big cat cubs I have seen this year
TFS

[Steve Kaluski]

I wondered when this might pop up, thought you might have kept it for Xmas. :D

Very unique Austin and a great capture.

TFS
Steve:)

[Rachel Hollander]

Absolutely amazing. Big congrats on this one. To have them all lines up and looking in your direction is incredible.

TFS,
Rachel

[Austin Thomas]

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

When this formation started to appear in front of my eyes, as they all started to sit down and look my way, I recall thinking:-

OMG "Don't get this one wrong Austin."

I actually felt some nervousness as nothing was moving ( normally I don't take pictures of static subjects ) and I had too much time to think. Typically it is all over in a split second with my images with no time to stop and think and analyse.

This will appear as a banner on my website, without a doubt.

Cheers

Austin

[Andy Biggs]

Austin, what a cracker of an image! Yes, having 6 cheetah cubs is a special experience to witness, but actually having a good photo 'situation' takes it over the edge. We had a similar situation in the southern Serengeti a few years back with 6 cubs, and it's great to see it done in the Mara.

Thanks for posting, and I agree about using the image as a banner on your site!

[Andrew Aveley]

an impressive image! Great use of the situation !! IQ tops :cool: