TITLE: Imani on the Mound

When photographing cheetahs from safari vehicles, we are constantly on the lookout for termite mounds or tree stumps or any other means of elevation. For cheetahs, these offer a way to scan the wide savannah for prey or threats. For us, they offer a simple way to get to eye-level with these gorgeous cats as well as getting to capture some enthralling poses.

This afternoon in the Masai Mara was cloudy, wet and blustery. The cheetah named Imani was on the move, looking for potential prey. When our guide noticed a prominent termite mound in the broad direction of her walk, we decided to take a chance and position ourselves there, hoping that she would oblige. And oblige she did!

This was a backlit scene as that was the only place that we could position the vehicle. Metering for the cat meant blowing out the sky. This final photo is a composite of the cat and its pose, with a separate shot of the clouds at the scene.

AUTHOR: Preeti and Prashant Chacko (India)

We are Preeti and Prashant Chacko, Indian photo artists. Together, we go by the handle “Composing the Wild”. Our work celebrates nature through the beauty of its wild animals, photographed in timeless black and white. We favour monochrome for its ability to distil emotion and to create a vision of a time past but hopefully never lost.

What inspires us is not just the visual drama of the wild, but the emotion it stirs. Over years of photography, we’ve learned that the images we cherish most are those that express beauty and emotion. Through our lens, we try to portray the grace of the wild and invite viewers to see these beings not as beasts, but as wonders worthy of awe, empathy, and protection.