AlienShots, A Photographer’s Blog

Cheetah’s Kill

One might think that when a Cheetah is after an animal then its a sure catch because of the animals amazing speed over 120 per hour. Well, thats not the case. Although amazingly fast, Cheetahs cannot keep the speed for long and if they are not successful in the first attempt, then usually the hunted animal gets away. Actually statistics show that they have a 50% success hunting rate. Cheetahs’ bursting speed also give rise to their body temperature and they cannot cool it enough to continue running at their top speeds. Similar to a modern day sprinter.
If you are trying to photograph a Cheetah in its top speed, then you should actually be quite a distance from the animal ( this way you will have a wider view area and you can even pan a shot or two), they are so fast that you need to shoot with the max fps whatever your camera can output and even then be happy if you got a few decent shots

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If you are out there in the tall grass looking for cheetahs, make sure you are wearing some long boots it will protect your ankles from reptiles. I have seen people in the bushes with slippers, believe it nor not.
Do not immediately follow a cheetah after the kill, wait till the animal is comfortably far enough, then slowly approach and shoot as much as you like. Keeping your self out of their site is the way to go, but if they see you they should feel that you are not interested in their food. If you have been following a cheetah sometime before a kill then you may have seen if there are any cubs involved, if so be careful when following it back to its youngsters. Try not to be intrusive, if thats actually possible at all.

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