Cheetah after the kill
We watched Mama Cheetah chase a gazelle and hold it in her jaws about 5 minutes until it died, then her 2 cubs set upon devouring it while she kept watch. When ...
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We watched Mama Cheetah chase a gazelle and hold it in her jaws about 5 minutes until it died, then her 2 cubs set upon devouring it while she kept watch. When their appetites were satisfied they sat up and watched while she finished it. After they had all had their fill, the vultures moved in en masse and there were only clean bones left.
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Dec, 2018Views
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Contest Finalist in My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 7
Contest Finalist in The Wonders of the World Photo Contest
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Behind The Lens
Location
We were on Safari in the southern Serengeti in Tanzania and watched the mother cheetah chase a gazelle. She went straight for the jugular, held it firmly in her jaws until it died (about 5 minutes) and then kept watch while her 2 cubs set about feasting on it. When they had satisfied their appetites, they sat up, which is when I took this photo, Mother then had her fill almost cleaning the carcass.. The vultures started accumulating in the trees nearby and as soon as she stopped eating, got up and walked a few paces, they swooped on the gazelle carcass, leaving not a morsel of muscle or anything except the skeleton.Time
mid morning.Lighting
We had had beautiful light shortly after dawn when we were watching lions, sitting, lying in the grass, walking and marking their territory. The highlight was a pair getting together walking for probably 1/2 an hour before the male mounted the female. It took him only 30 seconds, before they walked slowly on and lay down side by side. The best light was over before this photo was taken - it was rather harsh as the sun was climbing high in the sky.Equipment
Nikon 5300, 55 - 300mm lens, at 300mm. No tripod, no flash, 1/640 shutter speed.Inspiration
It was thrilling to watch the chase and observe the behavior of the family. We were on a photo tour, so were taking photos constantly.Editing
Minimal if at all. I may have changed the shadows a little.In my camera bag
My 2 Nikon bodies, 5300 and 3200, lenses 18 - 55mm, 55 - 300mm, fixed 50mm and wide angle, Tokina,11- 16mm, F2.8. I keep the lens I am using most on the 5300 body.Feedback
Go with Great Escape Publishing (here in the USA) . In Tanzania they use "Top Guide Safaris" who live up to their name. We had 3 specially adapted vehicles with 2 Photographer-Teachers from Great Escape and Victor, who owns Topguides Safaris. There were 4 of us participants in each vehicle with space to move around, shoot out of the roof or sides since most places in the National Parks of Tanzania you are not allowed to get out of the vehicles. All of the 3 drivers and Victor had an encyclopedic knowledge of all the birds, animals, geology and everything natural, and kept in touch with each other, so if one saw something the others were quickly notified and we had opportunities to photograph so many animals. We often lingered to observe their behavior and sometimes we moved so we could get better light or angles on the subjects. If we had not lingered, we would not have seen the cubs cleaning each other up !
