Perhaps the best place to photograph Cheetahs is in Namibia’s savannas and tall grasslands although southern Africa has a large population too. Keep in mind that Cheetahs are shy and will rarely allow you to come very close. The best way is to use an open vehicle and park somewhere around any hill tops available so that you have the full view of the surrounding slopes and if lucky enough you may even capture a kill.
One might think that when a Cheetah is after an animal then its a sure catch because of the animals amazing speed over 100-120 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 Cheetahs 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
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. Believe it nor not, I have seen people in the bushes with slippers.
Do not immediately follow a cheetah after the kill, wait till the animal is comfortably far enough, then slowly approach as mentioned before they are shy. 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 them or 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 that’s actually possible at all.
Distinct features of this small gazelle makes it an interesting subject to photograph. It is also very fast and speeds can reach up to 80 km/h. You have to be real ” sneaky” or take photographs from quite a distance as they are easily scared from even the sightliest movements. They are found in great numbers in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Perhaps the best place to photograph Springboks is around the Kalahari Desert. Taken at 300mm
Truly outstanding performance for a medium range AF it also comes with a Flower-shaped Hood ( eliminates image degradation from stray light ). Small and light, this is a great lens for everyday use, especially while roaming through urban areas. It’s range is excellent for portraits, indoor shoots and landscapes. Basically once you mount this lens you will rarely feel the need to change it. Most importantly, Images produced are very sharp.
Photographing wild animals in their natural habitat from a close distance is a risky and dangerous activity that requires skill, patience and understanding of animal behavior. Never the less, it is that great passion and love for wildlife and photography that constantly drives one towards unconsciously taking those risks. This is one of my favorites close Lion portraits, taken at 75mm
For a high impact wildlife portrait image it may sometimes be essential for the shot to be taken below eye level in order to put forward the characteristics and strength of the subject. In the photo above, the shot was taken from approximately less then 4-5 meters and I was positioned very low. The surroundings may greatly increase the image impact, for example, the cloudy sky in the background with distinct shades of bright and dark and the wind moving the animal’s hair adds to the grandeur of this magnificent carnivore.
Naturally, having all these elements in one shot is more of a lucky chance shot then any kind of preparation and planning, especially when being positioned a few meters from a wild animal and with adrenaline being released so rapidly producing a sensation that overwrites any possible rational thinking. It is extremely important to remember to silence your camera when releasing the shutter and try to avoid any sudden moves.
I was pleasantly surprised by this small and versatile shoulder bag from National Geographic. It comfortably holds my Nikon D300 ( which by the way I recently got as a present, an amazing camera and an amazing surprise it was ) with a mounted Nikkor 18-135, the additional front and back zip pocket can be used for a cell phone, sunglasses, battery,media cards. As it is small it proves to be a great walkabout bag and your equipment is also well protected. There is also a medium and a large model as well.
