I am still a cat I Photo

Photographer’s Note

The name "cheetah" comes from a Hindi word meaning "spotted one" or from the Sanskrit word "chitraka".

This cat is truly built for speed! Virtually every part of its body is adapted in some way to maximize running speed. Special paw pads and non-retractable claws provide great traction. Large nostrils and lungs provide quick air intake; a large liver, heart and adrenals also facilitate a rapid physical response. A long, fluid, greyhound-like body is streamlined over light bones. Small collarbones and vertical shoulder blades help lengthen the stride. The tail acts as a rudder for quick turning plus the eye's retinal fovea is of an elongated shape, giving the cheetah a sharp, wide-angle view of its surroundings. The dark tear marks beneath each eye may also enhance its visual acuity by minimizing the sun's glare. The spine works as a spring for the powerful back legs to give the cheetah added reach for each step.

The top speed, 71 miles per hour (114 kilometers per hour), can usually be maintained for only 200-300 yards. (274 meters).

Humans apply the name "cheetah" to both sexes - there are no special gender names. Two groups exist in wild populations: the family group and males. Males, often brothers, usually form a coalition of 2 or 3; only rarely will a male live alone. This coalition will live and hunt together for life claiming a range which may overlap several female territories. Young males seek out an area at a great distance from their parent; sometimes as far as 300 miles (482 kilometers). The average size of male territories is 37.4 square kilometers.

next Cheetah

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ISO : 100
Film : Velvia Slide
Exposure Program : Aperture Priority
Focal Length : 200mm
Focus Distance : ~30m/100ft
Flash : No
Tripod : No
Web Size : no crop
Slide Scanner : Microtek Artixscan 4000t
Scan Size : 2000dpi @ 3,7D

Intruder, appie, sn00zie, archanabhimasen, MLINES, MarcLabbe, SampraS, Leoness, alper_ayhan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Isabeau (105) 2004-01-18 17:12

Exactly like my Cat!
thanks for the notes.

zamsh (445) 2004-01-18 17:12

What a sweetie!
I love this animal!

One remark- you cut off his tail :(

Keitht (1112) 2004-01-18 17:18

A great shot but this is one cheetah that has definitely lost all it's "street cred". It looks more as if it wants it's belly rubbed although I wouldn't want to be the one to attempt it.
Nicely exposed as even the very light area on the chest still has the detail in it. I might have cropped some, not all, of the grass areas away to concentrate attention on the cheetah.
Terrific notes.

allotfy (1525) 2004-01-18 17:19

Very nice shot with very strong note ... well done

Clochette (8076) 2004-01-18 17:38

:-D
Excellent title and shot !!! All the more when considering the distance.
And your note could not have been more complete, I think.
Thank you Panos !

mitternacht (1836) 2004-01-18 17:59

Beautiful picture Panos, and thank you for the informative note. I love the warm tones of slide scans, digital cameras don't give pictures like this, not yet at least. These animals are wonderful and it's amazing how specialized they are. Great title, it really does remind me of a domestic cat.

CreaToR (88) 2004-01-18 18:45

great wildlife shot ! indeed it's still a cat (my cat sometimes thinks he's a cheetah, but by the time he's speeded up, he has reached the end of the room ;-)

Too bad his tail is missing for that little last bit!

thums up anyway, for the shot and for the great info...

Liora (1857) 2004-01-18 22:36

How sweet! that's one big beautiful cat. Thanks for bringing it to us and for the most interesting note.

PechePassion (483) 2004-01-19 2:07

Très jolie photo animalière mais un reproche de taille il lui manque un bout de sa queue !

Pour le reste c'est très bien fait, avec la netteté de l'animal mais aussi le flou de mouvement qui lui donne vie !

appie (8) 2004-01-19 11:42

Tail or no tail this is a fantastice picture kazan, reminds me of my kitty cat...

zto (292) 2004-01-19 14:48

What a cosy position. I kind of feel like giving this cat abig hug. I'm sure he/she would find me to be an easy meel if i did so, i'll just stay away and enjoy your photo instead. I wish that the whole tail was in the picture, but it is really nice as is.

nwoehnl (120) 2004-01-19 16:54

What a great moment to catch, Panos. A wonderful posture in which you caught this grand and beautiful animal here, and your note is a marvel of information and detail. Excellent!

mogens-j (56) 2004-01-19 17:54

Looks almost like a common house cat so relaxed. It is a wonderful capture Panos. Thank you for the very informative note – well don.

veroniq (95) 2004-03-10 13:46

a great captured moment of a beautiful animal!

Rangel (54) 2004-03-15 18:41

Of course u captured the tail... But it stills a wonderful picture.

Thanks for shoot and share. The note is incredible detailed.
Good one !

waskahegan (0) 2004-09-11 15:28

Go ahead pet him/her and see the result. Great shot

jean-marie (3088) 2004-09-11 15:39

trop drole !!!

sn00zie (2384) 2005-02-10 7:50

this is sooooo cuteeeee

LoneWolfREV (96) 2005-02-22 14:30

Actually my dog sleeps like that all the time, cute photo :)

dodic (706) 2005-03-10 5:23

I have the same cat in home,but a bit smaller:-)Very interesting pfoto and note.
I love all cats,but this one is just wonderful.

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shakerz2005 (109) 2005-03-10 5:23

Oh man.. I've witnessed a car accident before, investigations shows that the car speed only 80km/hr which resulted the damage of car, lucky the driver and the passenger are not seriously injured. I was wondering about this cheetah, sprinting at maximum speed of 114km/hr??? Never heared cheetah got accident before.. Oh! what a Cat!

clueless (61) 2005-04-06 3:53

If only the tip of the tail was showing. So cute even with all the power this animal has. Great that we get not just a wonderful photograph but info on the animal as well.

archanabhimasen (270) 2005-05-05 12:51

That was real informative description. Was this in the wild when you captured it or was it in a national park. Thats real good shot of a cheetha having a siesta.

MarcLabbe (14) 2006-10-12 13:50

doing the same workout as my cat, but i will not play with this one.
Great shot, we can see a lot, i mean it a lot, of details. Well balance

bamby_w (19) 2006-10-16 15:53

Lovely subject

Leoness (119) 2007-02-15 3:18

Hi.
I'm a cat :-) I like your picture.
TFS.Best regards,
Luiza

evanrizo (456) 2007-02-15 3:27

Καταπληκτική στιγμή μου θυμίζει τις γατούλες μου όπως πολλές φορές κοιμούνται. -:))
Vangelis