Sadala III

Sadala III, Mara North Conservancy, Kenya

Sadala, meaning "playful" in Maa, couldn't have looked less playful at this particular moment.

He had settled back on his haunches, completely still, looking straight into my lens. There was something about his expression that immediately caught my attention. The only word I could think of was mournful. Whether that's really what he was feeling is impossible to know, but it's how the photograph speaks to me every time I look at it.

Unlike the endless energy you'd expect from a young cheetah, there was no movement here. Just a quiet pause. His eyes are gentle yet incredibly direct, and for a fleeting moment he seemed completely absorbed in whatever was holding his attention.

The grasslands of the Maasai Mara remind us that this isn't a staged portrait but a wild animal in its natural home. Young cheetahs often find themselves briefly alone while their mother hunts or moves through the grass, and this image captures one of those moments. Surrounded by the vast African landscape, Sadala appears small and vulnerable, yet quietly confident at the same time.

I chose to present this photograph in black and white because colour distracted from what drew me to the image in the first place; his expression. Removing the warm tones of the savannah allows the viewer to focus entirely on the textures, the light and, above all, the connection in his eyes. The monochrome treatment gives the image a timeless quality and emphasises the stillness of the moment.

Wildlife photography is often associated with drama and action, but some of the most memorable encounters are the quiet ones. For me, this is one of those photographs. It doesn't demand your attention; it simply holds it.

About These Prints

Every print is produced by Whitewall, voted the world’s best photo lab by TIPA for multiple years. The quality speaks for itself.

Fine Art Print — Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper, printed with a 1cm border. A museum-quality archival paper that renders tone and shadow with exceptional depth.

Framed Print — As above, with a 3cm passe-partout mount and a 2cm black oak frame. Ready to hang.

Artbox — The image mounted behind glass in a slim aluminium frame. Clean, contemporary, and particularly striking at larger sizes.

Do visit my Prints and Framing page for more information on these products.

A note on sizing

All sizes refer to the image area only — the border, mount, and frame add to the overall dimensions. If you’re buying for a specific wall space or an existing frame, please factor this in. Not sure? Drop me a message and I’ll help you work it out.

Something else in mind?

Different size, different frame, different format entirely — I’m happy to help. Get in touch via the Contact page and I’ll do my best to sort it.

All prints are supplied without watermark or copyright overlay.