Stealth and power

During my first trip to Africa in 1994, I witnessed three different ways in which big cats move. They walk normally with a casual gait when everything in their world is fine, they get low to the ground and slink into sheltered areas of tall grass or dense thickets when they are frightened, and they become ultra streamlined, intense, and deadly when they stalk a prey. This cheetah in South Africa was in stalking mode, and it’s a powerful experience to witness such stealth and power. Every muscle is taut, and the cheetah’s concentration is undivided. My photography tour group and our vehicles were non-existent as far as the cat was concerned. I used a 300mm f/2.8 telephoto for the shot, and my settings were 1/1000, f/9 and 320 ISO.