#083 - Fangs of Fury

Serengeti, Tanzania - 2024
 
There’s a moment in the wild when time seems to freeze, when you’re no longer the observer but a silent part of the drama unfolding before you. Fangs of Fury was captured in one of those moments.
During my visit to this secluded corner of the Serengeti in Tanzania, I was looking for lions and cheetahs. The area had previously been closed to tourists to help boost the cheetah population, and it clearly worked. I spotted multiple cheetahs every single day during my visit.
 
This specific cheetah was very comfortable with my presence, and I followed her for quite a while. I was waiting for the moment she would climb a termite mound to get a better view of her surroundings. Cheetahs do this regularly, but I needed her to do it on the right mound, in the right light, and at the right distance for the image I had in mind.
 
I wanted it to be the tallest mound possible so that she would be physically above me while I photographed from my safari vehicle. I wanted the sun behind clouds to soften the light, and I hoped for thick, textured clouds behind her for added drama. I also needed to be close.
 
After quite some time and several attempts, everything finally came together. We carefully positioned ourselves at a respectful distance, allowing her to feel completely at ease. She moved naturally onto the mound, just as I had hoped. At one point, she looked directly toward us and gave a clear signal that she was aware of our presence. It was a moment of connection, not confrontation. I captured the image in that exact instant. We then paused, took a few more quiet shots, and slowly moved on, leaving her undisturbed to continue her day.
 
This is not the shot I had imagined at the start of the day, but nature doesn't follow a script. With patience, it often gives you something more real and powerful.
 
What I love about this image is that it shows a side of cheetahs we rarely see. We often associate them with grace and speed, but this frame captures something more primal. A flash of personality, a split second of what looks like fury. In truth, it was more about communication than aggression. A message, not a threat.