Evening with cheetahs, a photo from Kunene, North

Photographer's Note

Evening with cheetahs somewhere near Kamanjab was an unforgettable experience. They are so wonderful animals. I could observed their gracious movements for hours. and to have these wild beasts so close was very thrilling.

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large feline inhabiting most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. The cheetah can run faster than any other land animal— as fast as 96.5 to 104 km/h in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m, and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to over 100 km/h in three seconds.

There are several geographically isolated populations of cheetah, all of which are found in Africa or southwestern Asia.
The cheetah thrives in areas with vast expanses of land where prey is abundant. The cheetah likes to live in an open biotope, such as semidesert, prairie, and thick brush, though it can be found in a variety of habitats. In Namibia, for example, it lives in grasslands, savannahs, areas of dense vegetation, and mountainous terrain.
In much of its former range, the cheetah was tamed by aristocrats and used to hunt antelopes in much the same way as is still done with members of the greyhound group of dogs.
(After Wikipedia)

holmertz, timecapturer, Kamilutka, limielski, ikeharel, Didi, ourania, kasianowak, josepmarin, mumek, adores has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (26906) 2013-01-09 1:45

Hello Malgorzata,
Truly a beautiful animals, so well adapted to its environment. I never saw any cheetahs or leopards, just a few lions. You were really lucky to have had this experience and time enough to take a decent "portrait".
Best regards,
Gert

sabermonajati (7587) 2013-01-09 2:42

hi
wonderful and interesting frame from wild animal.
regard
saber

timecapturer (30300) 2013-01-09 3:17

Hi Malgo
amazing animals and captured so beautifully. Glorious detailing and tantalisingly close. A flawless execution and first class image of this wonderful big cat. Well done!

Regards - Brian.

Sergiom (39184) 2013-01-09 5:40

Bonjour Malgorzata,

Tu es bien chanceuse d'avoir pu approcher d'aussi près.Dire que tu utilisais une lentille à 61 mm c'est impressionnant. On voit la belle musculature de la bête prête à bondir.

Amicalement

Serge

Kamilutka (3207) 2013-01-09 12:09

Witaj,
piekne zwierze i zapewno bylo to niesamowitym przezyciem zobaczyc je w naturze i to z bliska. Bardzo dobra prezentacja z ciekawymi, cieplymi kolorami. Moze troszke zbyt centralne umiejscowienie geparda, ale szczegolnie jakos to nie razi.
Pozdrawiam cieplo
Kamila

jjcordier (62280) 2013-01-09 22:29

Malgorzata
Une bien belle rencontre! La nature environnante a eu également la bonne idée d'harmoniser ses couleurs avec celles de la belle cheetah.
Amicalement
JJ

saxo042 (31794) 2013-01-10 1:28

HI Malgo,
You were indeed lucky to capture this rare animal in its natural surrounding. Interesting to see how well it is camouflaged here, the background is of exactly the same colours. An excellent picture!
Kind regards
Gunnar

marabu61 (3900) 2013-01-10 2:18

Witaj Malgo
Cheethas are so magnicifent creatures, I completly agree with you. They are so graceful and you have captured this one in a so natural pose in its natural habitat.
Did you know, that Cheethas are the only big cat that can acctually be realy tamed?
We once visited a private game reserve in South Africa, where they had a Cheetha that was orphand as a cub and then brought up by the owners. Even though Savannah came and went on her own will and was hunting her own food in the reserve, she was a regular at the pool side or in the restaurant of the reserve. One had to be especially careful wit ice cream, as she loved it so much or if you left the door to your cottage open, you could find yourself with a cheetha in bed in the evening. Our kids just loved her.
Just the other day, I discoverd a picture of her in National Geographic magazine and that she had given birth to 4 healthy cubs. That was a nice surprise.
Pozdrawiam
Daniel

ikeharel (37280) 2013-01-10 7:57

A magnificent picture of an close encounter with the fastest preditor, Malgo.
Hope you had been in a secured vhicle from a safe distance, they can jump as well, you know...
Impressive nature.
Good evening,
Ike

Didi (48896) 2013-01-10 9:47

Hi Malgo
Une très belle capture de cet animal
Tu étais protégée dans un 4X4 heureusement; mais les guépards peuvent sauter sur le capot de la voiture.
Bien cordialement

ourania (12343) 2013-01-10 10:00

Hello Malgo,
this picture has superb composition, lighting and sharpness. I like very much that there's space around the elegant and strong animal, it gives a sense of freedom of movement. The colours are lovely, warm and harmonious but the posture of the cheetah conveys alertness. The play of light on the dry grass is wonderful. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a lovely evening,
Ourania

kasianowak (2235) 2013-01-10 13:05

Dobry wieczor Malgosiu!
Super portret. Swietna poza i "wyraz mordki". ;) Bardzo podoba mi sie tlo - pokazuje to imponujace zwierze w jego naturalnym srodowisku.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia

josepmarin (55023) 2013-01-12 13:46

Witaj Malgo,
a magnificent capture in which you have caught this beautiful cheetah in his natural habitat, observing around him, looking for some prey, as a great hunter.
I like the wild life that you offer us in this fantastic photo, a really dream for any photographer.
Best regards,
Josep

Silvio1953 (98093) 2013-01-13 3:21

Ciao Malgorzata, great capture of superb creature in a beautiful wild ambientation, wonderful natural colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good Sunday, ciao Silvio

mumek (20190) 2013-01-14 8:57

Hi Malgosiu!
Wspaniale uchwycony gepard. Swietna kolorystyka i sczczegoly. Pieknie pokaze zwierze w swoim naturalnym srodowisku. Interesujaca notatka.
pozdrawiam serdecznie
ziggy

sacavem (18572) 2013-01-15 9:49

Olá Malg,

Absolutely perfectly executed image with beautiful lighting and natural warm tones.Congrats.

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

Ricx (13435) 2013-01-16 15:37

Hello my friend,, aah the Cheetah- one of my favourite animal- its such a lovely animal.. faqst and slick .. sounds like you had a wonderful trip- I see next trip to Aussie and Melbourne-- make sure you look up the guys there-- they will spoil you.. Please send my best regards to your husband.. Rich

amaryllis (30149) 2013-01-17 8:52

Bonjour
une superbe photo de ce félin sauvage, sa couleur se confond presque avec les hautes herbes de même couleur; un très bel animal et merci de ce partage pour la voir si près
amicalement
juliette

serp2000 (29172) 2013-01-22 3:53

Czesc, Malgo,
I take off my hat... Superb! I love these colours and yellow hues. Perfect sharpness. Just a quintessence of your trip. It could be a poster for a wall, for example.
Best wishes from snowy town,
Serghei

adores (28196) 2013-01-23 15:37

Hi Malgorzata!
This must be a great experience:)! So close and sharp! The cheetah is very well captured, with good focus and I like the tonalities of the shot.

olive224 (1211) 2013-01-26 10:26

Hi
Even if this shot should better be on TreakNature, i can only say that this is a great one ;)
THe tones and colors of the animal are quite the same as the background's. It's easy for him to hide !!

Nice catch;)
Cheers
OLivier

eldancer1 (17008) 2013-01-28 18:29

Wow! Excellent capture of this cheetah! Looks like this guy is ready for action. Great lighting and dof with sharp details. Very well done, tfs.