2012: Behaviour: Mammals - Commended
Grégoire Bouguereau (France)
Seized opportunity
A single cheetah would never normally dream of taking on prey the size of an adult wildebeest. But there was obviously something wrong with this wildebeest, which was lying on the ground, covered in mud. It kept trying, laboriously, to get to its feet. Each time it did manage to stand, it would collapse again. Its behaviour caught the attention of a female cheetah with two cubs, which Grégoire had been watching for several days in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. ‘She had just caught a newborn Thomson’s gazelle, but that wasn’t enough food for her family. So, after observing the struggling wildebeest for a while, she decided to make the most of the opportunity.’ While the female was assessing the situation, Grégoire positioned his camera and set it on remote control so that he, too, could seize the opportunity.
Nikon D3X + 16-35mm f4 lens; 1/200 sec at f22 (-1 e/v); ISO 100; Nikon SB-900 flash; Oppilas Wireless Shutter Remote Control.
View other winners in this category
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Winner Practice run Grégoire Bouguereau
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Runner-up Ghost bears Kimmo P Pöri
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Specially Commended Perilous pickings Jenny E Ross
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Commended Snow pounce Richard Peters
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