Vicki Santello
Camera: Canon EOS R5
Lens: EF 600mm f/4 III
Aperture: f/4
Shutter speed: 1/640 sec
ISO: 1600
Description: A male lion greets the day with a lazy yawn rising in a sun-drenched field
Story from behind the lens: I came upon this newly waking lion early one morning. Everything in that moment was drenched in golden light including the foliage and the background. I immediately knew I wanted to use my 600mm f/4 to create a smooth background. My camera was set up on the jeep floor, doors off, with the tripod legs fully opened, flat on the floor which gave me a low camera angle. I was confident this low camera angle would be advantageous to capture his flat position in the grass. Sammy positioned the vehicle and I began to shoot before the lion stood up and the moment was over.