O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!

DINOKENG, SOUTH AFRICA - 2024

The creative premise behind this photograph evolved in the full knowledge that there would be a very low percentage success rate. Sometimes I don’t even press the shutter and then the times that I do shoot, there is normally something that kills the image. But that is part of the deal: we are gambling. It’s a bit like a Hail Mary pass in American Football, so many fortunate things must align for there to be a good outcome.  

The biggest issue, assuming the lion jumps over the water (which is not a given), is precise focus. I used to use remote controls in this set up, but the camera is only so smart and I prefer to be operating the camera. So now I work from a strategically positioned heavy cage with a wide-angle lens and hope that the lion jumps towards me. When any moving object is this close to the lens, the greater the need for a very fast shutter speed. 

This photograph makes up for my countless failures. It is a credit to Kevin Richardson’s skills at his sanctuary in South Africa - he is not known as The Lion Whisperer for no reason. We have worked together for over 14 years now and the monies raised from our partnership have gone a long way to securing the long-term future of his lauded sanctuary. Kevin knows more about lions and lion behaviour than anyone and I totally recognise that he brings more to the party than I do. To watch him at work is quite extraordinary and it an honour to be given such access.

~ David Yarrow