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Cheetah


Cheetah
Photo Information
Copyright: Paula van Balen (pvb) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 385 W: 16 N: 531] (1981)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-27
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Pentax K100D, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG Macro, 58 mm UV Hama
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/180 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-10-23 12:28
Viewed: 4407
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a vulnerable member of the cat family (Felidae), a poor climber that hunts by speed and stealth. As such, it is placed in its own genus, Acinonyx. It is the fastest of all land animals and can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h (68 mph) in short bursts up to 460 m (500 yards), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 110 km/h (68 mph) in three seconds, faster than most supercars.
The cheetah thrives in areas with vast expanses of land where prey is abundant. In Namibia, it has been found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, savannahs, dense vegetation, and mountainous terrain. Ninety-five percent live on commercial farms. The cheetah is found in the wild primarily in Africa, but in the past its range extended into India. Conservationists using camera traps have recently discovered surviving populations in Iran and are taking steps to protect them. In much of its former range, it 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. Aside from an estimated fifty cheetahs living in Iran (Khorasan Province), the distribution of the cheetah is now limited to Africa. There are five subspecies of cheetah in the genus Acinonyx: four in Africa and one in Iran. The endangered subspecies Acinonyx jubatus venaticus lives in Asia (Iran). In 1990, there were reports in the Times of India of a cheetah sighting in eastern India. There is a chance some cheetahs remain in India, though it is doubtful. There have also been several unconfirmed reports of Asiatic cheetahs in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, with at least one dead animal being recovered recently. The cheetah prefers to live in an open biotope, such as semi-desert, prairie, and thick brush.

Der Gepard ist eine hauptsächlich in Afrika verbreitete Katze. In Anpassung an seine Jagdweise hat der Gepard zahlreiche Merkmale entwickelt, die eigentlich für Caniden typisch sind. Er nimmt daher morphologisch-anatomisch eine Sonderstellung innerhalb der Familie der Katzen ein. Genetische Untersuchungen konnten diese Sonderstellung jedoch nicht bestätigen; nächste Verwandte des Gepards sind amerikanische Katzenarten.
Der Gepard war einst über fast ganz Afrika mit Ausnahme der zentralafrikanischen Waldgebiete verbreitet; außerdem waren Vorderasien, die indische Halbinsel und Teile Zentralasiens besiedelt. Heute ist er fast nur noch in Afrika südlich der Sahara anzutreffen. In Asien gibt es winzige Restbestände, die am Rande der Ausrottung stehen (siehe Unterarten).
Geparde sind reine Savannen- und Steppentiere. Sie bevorzugen Bereiche mit hohem, Deckung bietendem Gras und Hügeln als Ausschaupunkten. Zu viele Bäume und Sträucher machen eine Landschaft für Geparde ungeeignet, da sie dort ihre Schnelligkeit nicht ausnutzen können. In Halbwüsten kommen Geparde dagegen gut zurecht, wenn sie genügend Beutetiere finden.

Picture taken at Safaripark Beekse Bergen.
Annick Van der Schelden once said "Car manufacturers should market cars with faster opening and closing window systems 'cause if these guys decide to accelerate you have no chance:-)" and he is absolutly right about that.
We had the car window open and this one was in the grass and we did not even see him/here about 5 to 10 minutes.

Hope you like it
nglen, writerscrawlz, undoredo, Alex99, VeeJayCee, gracious, marhowie, PaulH, wuta, hester, horia, Pentaxfriend has marked this note useful
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To Zeno: dank jepvb 1 10-23 12:46
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-10-23 12:34]

Hi Paula. what a fine close up of this beatiful cheetah. he looks so happy in the wild grass. A very nice pose with the flowers in the BG. good detail in the fur and eyes. a nice pOV. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Absolutely wonderful shot of this cheetah. He looks relaxed and unconcerned with you being there. I love the color of his eye, this pose, and overall, the composition. Nice contrasting colors, great sharpness, and a ton of jealously here! Wish I could give you more than two.

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 0 N: 1345] (10867)
  • [2007-10-23 12:43]
  • [+]

Ha Paula,

Schitterende foto van één van de mooiste landdieren. Ben zelf ook in Beekese Bergen geweest maar heb daar geen cheeta van zo dichtbij mogen aanschouwen.Leuk ook die kleine paarse bloempjes.

groet,
Zeno.

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 0 N: 172] (2441)
  • [2007-10-23 12:54]

I like this animal. You captured it wonderful. Beautiful frame of grass and flowers makes picture more natural.

Hello Paula,
Very nice capture of this fellow with excellent details and sharpness, fine POF and great focusing, well composed too.
TFS and regards,
Kevin

Ha Paula,

Schitterende opname van deze Cheetah
Compo, scherpte, belichting, kleur en pose zijn fantastisch
toen ik er was waren ze niet te zien en ook beide wilde honden soorten lieten zich niet zien

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2007-10-24 5:26]

Hi Paula.
What a nice pictured scene. The charming cat lying among so beautiful grasses, flowers and bushes. Bravo for subject selection. I also like beautiful pose of the animal, perfect POV, excellent sharpness f the cat, flowers and a little bit blurred BG and grass at FG. My best wishes and TFS. Superb done.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-10-24 11:31]

Hello Paula

I really like the relaxed feel to this portrait.The tall grass and wildflowers give the image a lackadaisical feel.The focus is sharp with very good detail.The low POV is very good.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
  • [2007-10-24 21:13]

WOW ! Perfectly done Paula, what can we ask more ? Nothing else to say except: GREAT ! Thanks,

Mario

You have caught a wonderful pose here Paula. Super exposure colour and sharpness too.

Hello Paula,
Good low pov with perfect DOF in sharpness, colour and so much details!
I liked the pose of Cheetah very much how you captured him!
very well done and well composed
thanks for the wonderful notes
greeting from NZ
cheers
Tony

Hi Paul,
What makes this closeup special, is the manner in which the grasses and small flowers form a natural frame/border..Excellent POV, exposure, detail, and DOF isolating the head in the frame well.
Have a great weekend,
Howard

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2007-10-26 5:49]

So nice to see this beautiful animal in such a pretty setting amomgst the flowers like this..lovely detail and excellent DOF, thanks for sharing this Paula.
Have a good weekend,
Paul

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2007-10-26 11:03]

Hoi Paula , Een schitterende foto van de cheeta , mooie scherpte pose details kleuren en achtergrond ,heel mooi ,Goed Weekend ,Teunie .

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-10-27 8:41]

Hi Paula

I love the setting and the low POV. The pose is nice and the focus spot on

TFS

Karan

Hi Paula,
Beautiful portrait of the resting Cheetah.
The colours are truly striking and complimented by the flowers. Super.
Well done,
Peter

Very nice capture Paula, I like the pose of the cheetah and the surroundings add up to the picture. Well done!

Lise

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2007-11-06 9:12]

Hi Paula

This is a very nice close-up portrait of this big cat species that i love so much!
I find cheetahs to be very if not the most gracefull mamals and here you managed to show some very beautiful fetaures of it.
I once heard a very old african legend: a mother cheetah had 2 cubs and she took great care of them all the time. Once (i don't remember the cause of) there was a great fire in the savanah and she tried to sun away and also save her cubs...but she couldn't. She could only watch how they were killed in the flames. That time she cried really hard and because of all the ashes and smoke, her tear marks were left permanent on her fir.
I find those "tear marks" to be a definitive element why i like these cats so much...but that's not the only reason.
Your photo here is very clear and sharp and also exposed well. Due to that, the natural colors came out well and nicely saturated, too.
Great work!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

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