Camera: Nikon Z9

Lens: Nikkor 24-70/2.8S

Aperture: 2.8

Shutter speed: 1/100

ISO: 45600

Description: As night falls, finally the male leopard skillfully scales his tree to retrieve his carefully hidden kill from the safety of the treetop. This strategic move keeps it out of reach from his competitors

Story from behind the lens: A remarkable event occurred in Maasai Mara a year ago. While at a distance, we witnessed a male leopard chasing a Serval Cat in the tall grass but failing to capture it. That was a great experience, but the magic to come was even greater: Close by, we stumbled upon a tree where we noticed the leopard had hidden a kill - safely out of reach from competitors and enemies like lions and hyenas. After several hours of waiting, night fell. Finally, the leopard finally came back and climbed the tree - skillfully - to retrieve its prey. And what a scenery it was! We had a wonderful experience being almost alone in this peaceful setting. Despite the darkness, I was also able to take photos using a short lens. This goes to show that a long lens is not always necessary for wildlife photography. Additionally, I appreciate the aesthetic effect of the grain caused by the high ISO of 45,600, reminiscent of old black-and-white film photography that I did so much before and adore.