A male lion lying under a Camel Thorn Tree in Kgalagadi Transforntier Park, South Africa, in summer in the soft early morning light.I was a mere 5 meters from this lion sitting in my 4x4. Focal length 290mm with the fujifilm 100-400 and fujifilm XT5.This lion was actually a "lone ranger" having been thrown out of its original pride. Due to an unjury it was unable to hunt and subsequently was dying of starvation. Sadly, just three days later it died mere meters from a water hole some 70 meters from this spot under the tree. Other lions had attacked it overnight.Nature is both beautiful and cruel at the same time.
Contest Submissions
Click on the thumbnails below to comment and rate each image.
Click here to learn about the Fstoppers rating system and what each star value means.
7 Comments
Nice work. Nature is beautiful. It's also hard, harsh and unforgiving. What I say about the deserts in the Southwest USA, "what doesn't bite, try to sting you or stick you will try to chase you down, kill you and eat you". I feel for the old lion, but old lions die, hopefully in a more dignified way than this one did.
Thanks Nathan, Certainly it was heart wrenching to watch a magnificent beast totally helpless against its own certain demise. This is not something one witnesses daily, its a very privileged sighting.
I think the story is important when trying to judge a photo. When I first saw this, I thought, it's beautiful, but not the best way to show a lion, perhaps. But reading the story, it changes everything. I don't think anyone could take a better picture of a lion dying. There's so much emotion on his face. This is really exceptional.
Thanks for your thoughts Loraine (with one R). Yes images never tell the full story do they? For me this image seems to show his peaceful acceptance with his final destiny.
I showed it to my husband and he was moved. This one is going to stay with us for a while. Especially since we're going through a hard time right now with my dad's health.
Lovely lion at rest :-) Let sleeping lions lie :-) wonder how old it was ? :-) the soft contours & seeming softness of his fur give a wonderfully textured feeling :-) something one can hang on their wall & also appreciate for its abstract quality :-) the lion is resting, not dead, & tho near death as we learn from the story, is alive, seems alive & its image is alive :-)
Hi Sahlan, He wasn't older than 8 years. Normally the Kalahari male lions live between 10 to 14 years. You certianly see in the image the same textures and softness i saw. Thanks for your insights!