Sheer Luck

In photography, an awesome shot is one part great light, two parts interesting angle and, almost always, born entirely out of sheer luck."

Lions, especially young males, make great subjects all on their own. They are the perfect models: striking, poised and completely captivating. But, alone, great models don't always make great photographs. Good pictures come from a combination of the right time and setting - capturing the right subject at the perfect moment. These males are part of a coalition of three, who are on the rise in their territory in Madikwe at the moment. They are pushing two older males out of their territories and I predict that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future. I was lucky enough to spot these males at just the right time, and the combination of pale light, which offset the cats' tawny colouring against the blue sky, and their positioning on a hill - overlooking their future kingdom - made for a beautiful shot.