The other day, a few years ago, we walked into a group of ‘escape artists’ in the Eastern Cape. I seems a virtual impossible task for game reserves to keep their Cheetahs within the own boundaries. It was around noon and hot and the animals were lazy. I made myself big (never make yourself small when portraying wildlife with a 100mm lens) and kept the camera low.
A ‘professional’ wildlife photographer in our village told me that it was impossible that Cheetahs in the Eastern Cape are free roaming but he was nicely corrected by a nature conservator. He also claimed that it’s impossible to make a photo of a cheetah from such a short distance…. But then … if you stay a long distance from animals and picture them with a huge telelens and being afraid or the dog of the neighbour…. etc. etc.
I’m not a wildlife photographer but if I picture animals (be it a bird, cow or lion) I want to be seen by my subject.
Herman van Bon Photography 