The Smackdown

Gallery: WildlifePosted April 6, 2014397 views15 comments

If you've ever tried to photograph a cheetah hunt, then you would know that it's over in a flash, and you often just can't track the movement changes of the chase well enough. During our Wild Eye Great Migration Photographic Safari in the Mara Triangle (Kenya) last year, we pulled into a cheetah sighting just as the hunt was about to begin.

As the chase began, the female Cheetah chased the Thomson's Gazelle right past the nose of our Land Cruiser and then the take-down happened about 30 meters from our shooting position. Those of you who know me know that I photograph wildlife action primarily with the Nikkor 500mm prime telephoto lens. With it not being a zoom lens, getting the action too close can be a concern - the chase could just as well have veered the other way and then not even 1200mm would have been enough...

This frame didn't have any of the cheetah hind quarters in it. I cropped more square to focus on the action. What do you think?

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
f8.0 | 1/3200 SS | ISO-800

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Guy Nelson on April 6, 2014 at 4:41 PM

What a great action shot Morkel. That is a real life and death situation. The Cheetahs claws....says it all.
Guy

Registered on October 12, 2012, 24 Posts, 138 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on April 6, 2014 at 6:03 PM

Morkel - awesome action and fantastic image! I just want to mention I zoomed in a little on my phone to show my youngest daughter and it went from fantastic to insane! You owe it to yourself to try a more panoramic crop with just a little space above the horns and below the biggest clump of mud at the bottom. I'm not saying you made a bad choice as presented but for me the tighter (top and bottom) crop emphasizes the power and action of the moment even further. The bottom just becomes dust and flying dirt and the moment captured is intensified.

All that being said, this one's top shelf IMO, although frankly it seems most of yours are!

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on April 7, 2014 at 3:23 AM

Morkel,
Never managed to this close myself, nor without "pesky" grass.
For me the main fault is that everything is facing the wrong way, but then very few get them coming the right way. I am sure you remember Austin Mitchell and Bettina's images from a few years back.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on April 7, 2014 at 7:23 AM

Just to get this action in focus, as you did, is an amazing feat. Love the flying dirt. Great capture.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Mario Moreno on April 7, 2014 at 9:58 AM

Action Packed shot ! Nice capture Morkel. I do believe a tighter crop would cause a higher visual impact.

Registered on January 24, 2012, 163 Posts, 369 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 7, 2014 at 3:27 PM

Geez, I can't even catch birds in flight...maybe someday. The action here is very dramatic. Given the flying dirt and the gazelle's position, the lack of Cheetah hindquarters doesn't bother me. I could possibly see taking a bit off top and bottom, but the Gazelle's outstretched leg (even though obscured by flying dirt) strikes me as about close enough to the frame on the right.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on April 8, 2014 at 8:46 PM

Love the action and the details of flying dirt and extended claws. Great. My only wish would be to find a less square foremat.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on April 10, 2014 at 1:02 AM

Amazing action Morkel. What a great shot. I would love to see all of the cheetah, but the focus on the paw and the gazelle are fantastic.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on April 11, 2014 at 3:51 PM

Super action.

I don't mid the defined cut into the cheetah's body at all. I am inclined to agree with those thinking a more paneled crop might be a stronger presentation.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Olsen on April 12, 2014 at 11:17 PM

Wow!! Very impressive to get a photo like this Morkel! Nice and sharp and the flying dust and debris really accent the chase. Nicely done!

Registered on October 19, 2006, 306 Posts, 1571 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on April 12, 2014 at 11:26 PM

From a fellow wildlife photographers perspective there are two things that immediately struck me about this photo. The first was that big powerful paw of the cheetah coming down on its prey, wow that's some action. The second thing, is how I wish that the entire cheetah was in the frame. As you say, difficult situation to frame up in the heat of the action. I would agree with a slightly tighter crop as previously suggested.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 13, 2014 at 1:58 PM

Super action Morkel, I especially like the raised paw about to strike. I don't mind the cheetah's body being cropped. I wish we could see the cheetah's eye, a bit unlucky there. As posted I would crop a slice from the bottom.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 14, 2014 at 9:42 AM

Morkel, I have never been to Africa, os obviously trying to get this shot is foreign to me....but I can image it is similar to tracking very fast moving birds in flight, so I know it can't be easy. So first, congratulations on even getting this. I of course wish they were facing this way, but nothing you can do about it....I just hope next time you get that opportunity because if you do, I imagine you will nail the shot. I am not bothered at all about the close crop, but I do wish it wasn't so square. I might remove some from the bottom and a tiny bit from the top and go with more of a 2x3. Oh and did I say...this is still freaking awesome? Because it is, the action is tremendous. Very nice work!

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on April 18, 2014 at 11:20 AM

Hello Morkel

I am a little late on this one,(Just returned)............ but Great action with the Cheetah in its final takedown.

Thanks for sharing

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 2, 2014 at 10:16 AM

Thanks for your kind comments, folks!!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments