How I got the shot: Ben Pipe on coming face to face with a lion

Tell us about this image. 

We were in a safari jeep in South Africa, heading out to document a white rhino collaring at Marakele National Park, when this magnificent lion strolled down the track ahead of us. Our guide was in a hurry to take us to the park, but this was too good a shot to miss. I began photographing the lion head on as it came towards us — an exhilarating experience I’ll never forget. Then, as he nonchalantly passed by our car, this side view became possible. The lion paused, scanning the track, only a few feet away from us. This was a dream assignment — I could have happily spent all year working on it.

How did you achieve the shot? 

I knew this was mainly going to be a wildlife assignment, so I needed different kit from a regular travel job. Long lenses were essential; I took a Nikon 200-400mm f/4, which I used when we got closer to wildlife, and hired a Nikon 500mm f/4 from Johannesburg airport. I mounted them on a Nikon D850 and Nikon Z6 II. All of the usual things like lighting and composition came into play, but I was also particularly aware of the background. That can make or break a shot, even if it’s out of focus due to the wide apertures often used for wildlife photography. 

What were the challenges at play? 

This image was shot from the jeep, but I wanted to be as low down as possible — eye level with the lion. However, I obviously wasn’t allowed out of the car — our guide was trying keep me alive — so I had to work with the space I had. Photographing wildlife also means dealing with unpredictable subjects. I always try to be prepared for a picture, camera at the ready, as you often only get a few seconds before the animals are gone again. Yet, this lion very generously gave us a nice long session with him.

What advice would you give someone starting out in travel photography? 

Originality, originality and originality. The internet and Instagram were supposed to feed a new creative age, but I think, in many ways, the opposite has happened. Now, everyone goes to the same places to take the same pictures. This will get you nowhere — you have to go and explore a place for yourself, put mud on your boots and find the shots and angles nobody has got before.