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Thread: Bloody Cheetah Cub

  1. #1
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Default Bloody Cheetah Cub

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    One of our great sightings last year in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. We spent a whole afternoon with a family of 5 cheetahs (mom and 4 large cubs) as they devoured an entire springbok lamb right next to our vehicle.

    Techs:
    Canon 7D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 275mm
    f7.1 @ 1/400 SS @ ISO-800
    Exp +0.7 (in the shade of a tree)
    Slight crop from RHS and top, 90% of full frame
    Morkel Erasmus

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    Hi Morkel, this is a wonderful sighting and a great image. I like the wonderful eyes, great detail, composition and bokeh. Sometimes those camelthorn backgrounds are not ideal in the Kalahari. TFS


  3. #3
    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Morkel, a bit of a messy eater by the look of things.

    I like the look on this, totally oblivious to you it seems which is nice. There is some good detail in there, and looks like even more which you can extract far better I think from the RAW. I just opened up the face in Curves, a little H/S in the eyes & nose (some great detail in there), with a tweak in the colour mix to (optional). Left the BKG as is as it's soft enough to separate from the rather blod stained subject.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

  4. #4
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks Mark and Steve for the comments and the repost.

    Mark - yes the BG is a camelthorn tree...they were feasting under the tree next to the road.

    Steve - I like what you did to the eyes and nose but think it's a tad too orange now, and the stomach contents on the mouth was definitely green and not as yellow...

    Here's a rework based on your suggestions. In the full res image you can see our vehicle reflected in his eyes...
    Morkel Erasmus

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    BPN Member dankearl's Avatar
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    Great photo, Morkel, it must be awesome as a Photographer to have these in "your back yard".
    I actually prefer the OP to the reposts, it is a bit more subtle.
    Nice DOF also.
    Dan Kearl

  6. #6
    Brendan Dozier
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    Real nice capture, Morkel! Great eyes, texture, BG. Almost looks like it was using its face as a paint brush!

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    Actually I liked OP as best , excellent capture
    TFS

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Morkel - I too prefer the OP. Nice portrait, well captured with excellent detail and sharpness as usual.

    TFS,
    Rachel

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer Pieter de Waal's Avatar
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    HI Morkel , wonderful image with great impact, sharpness and depiction of nature in the raw. Prefer the OP as IMHO it appears more natural.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Thanks for the kind comments folks...I also like the OP as it was "as I saw it" but felt that Steve's tweaks held some merit as it is our prerogative to enhance the details/colours in our images to whatever extent we are comfortable to.
    Morkel Erasmus

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  11. #11
    DanWalters
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    Nice portrait. The red shows what a hard life they lead.

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