Camera: Canon R5

Lens: RF 100-500 mm f/4.5-7.1

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter speed: 1/2000

ISO: 2500

Description: An alpha male carries away the remnants of what was a baby giraffe. His physical power was impressive and intimidating!

Story from behind the lens: The kill was made during the night and when I arrived at dawn, the entire pride was still feeding. Within a few hours the skeleton was stripped bare. This male, co leader of the pride, carried the hide across the grass into the bushes leaving the bones and scraps to hyenas, jackals and vultures. The portrait of the lion tells the story of his physical strength as well as the more subtle story of the commingling of his luxurious mane and the scruffier mane of the what was the giraffe.I was at the kill sight for hours watching the continual action between the individual lions of the pride as well as the scavengers. I took this image from a doors-off safari vehicle.