Since it's Cheetah week...

[Morkel Erasmus]

This is another one of the four cubs who were finishing a springbok kill with their mother next to our vehicle. Like I said in my previous cheetah post...it was half the battle to decide which one to focus on as every cub was doing its own thing.

The light was playing along nicely here, albeit from the wrong direction - then we just improvise right? The Kalahari light is awesome for rim-lighting and back-lighting, partly due to the fact that the air is so clean and there's not much to block the rays of the setting sun.

Techs:
Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 170mm
f5.0 @ 1/250 SS @ ISO-250
I think I was somehow on auto ISO here, hence the strange settings.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Morkel, I like the setting and pose of this guy, looks like he is on a mission.

Just a thought, but have you tried in Colour balance dropping the:

Shadows- Cyan -12 & Blue +9
Mids - Cyan to say -28, Magenta -7 Blue +20,
Highlights - Cyan -12 & Blue +9

Quickly done on the laptop so... be interested in what you think.

Steve

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks Steve...tried it quickly but it becomes too bland? the Kalahari light really gives off this immense warm glow, and the colour balance adjustments just robs too much of that.

[Steve Kaluski]

No worries, occasionally we ned to think out loud.

[Morkel Erasmus]

indeed we do...and every loud thought is appreciated, some more than others

[Todd Frost]

Love the comp and pose Morkel. I does look a tad warm but your expalnation of the Kalahari light makes perfect sense. Now I just have to witness it Good sharpness on the cat. Well done.
TFS
Todd

[Marc Mol]

Love the rim lighting and overall colour here Morkel, still with good detail on the coat.
TFS

[Harshad Barve]

excellent image Morkelbhai
TFS

[Hilary Hann]

Morkel, as you can imagine this sort of composition works for me very well! I'm sure that you've played with this image to enhance rim lighting and the glow in the grasses, to maximum effect, but it does lend itself to some interesting ideas.

[Ken Watkins]

Morkel,

A very interesting capture, I too have tried messing about with this, and actually think it looks better a little darker as it seems to me to bring out the richer colours.

I suppose it is all horses or courses.

[Austin Thomas]

There is a really good feeling created by this image Morkel. You have handled the lighting very well.

I like the composition as well.

Cheers

Austin

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks very much for the kind comments everybody, glad you like it

Ken - how much darker exactly? Like this?

[Ken Watkins]

Morkel,

I did not go that dark, but I also did not save it nor can I remember my adjustments sorry

I think a little back would be or me at least perect, do you think it improves it?

[Morkel Erasmus]

I do like it darker, but you may be right, it should be between the 2 :)