Camera: Sony ILCE-1

Lens: Sony 400mm G OSS f2.8

Aperture: f4

Shutter speed: 1/320s

ISO: 1000

Description: This adult male, one of the trio of males that together defend male access to the Topi lion pride, was by himself in the late afternoon. Hazy clouds provided beautiful soft light for this portrait.

Story from behind the lens: We tracked the male while moving up a hill side to this resting place, where he stayed for 45 minutes. He never really rested, being constantly alert with his head up. He had apparently been in a fight not long before, as he had a partly scarred wound above his right eye. The wind was quite strong, blowing his long mane into many shapes in quick succession. Our vehicle changed positions several times to find a clean background. As his position became shaded by the nearby hill, the male stood up and moved north.