When you have a fierce lioness walking toward you, you have to stay calm to take a great photo. In the case of wildlife photographer Hiren Vekaira, this was no issue. It’s impressive that Vekaira could keep so steady while shooting not just a mighty cat, but one that looks so unhappy. Yet the image that he’s captured is beyond spectacular. Have a look for yourself:
“A Fierce March” by Hiren Vekaria (Via Reddit. Click image to see full size.)
Vekaira shot the image with a Nikon Z6 and 70-200 f/2.8 lens at 200mm, f/2.8, 1/125th of a second and ISO 100. And while it appears as though he encountered the lioness in her natural habitat, he actually shot the image at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in England.
“The best shots I’ve taken are always with big cats staring deep into my soul and this one is another example of it.”
While the lioness is without a doubt the focal point of the image, it’d be unfair if we didn’t appreciate the mood surrounding her. To start with, the lighting is just perfect. With half of her face lit, and the other half in deep shadow, the lioness looks simply majestic. Couple that with her intense expression and what looks like a battle scar, and the overall intensity matches the live-action Lion King movie.
She’s fearsome yet stunningly beautiful. Hats off to the photographer for capturing the true prowess of a queen. What would you do if you encountered her in an open field? Would you dare photograph her or look for safety?
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