Camera: Nikon Z7_2

Lens: Nikkor Z 70-200 f/2.8

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter speed: 1/250

ISO: 640

Description: A lioness, one half of a mating pair on honeymoon, awakens from her slumber with a regal yawn. Shortly after this photograph was taken, she sauntered over the rocks to awaken her partner.

Story from behind the lens: One lovely cloudy evening we came across a mating pair of lions lazily resting on top of a massive black rock. The lioness belonged to the Black Rock pride but the male was new to the territory. We were therefore witnessing the possible continuation of this illustrious pride. Moments before this image was made, the lioness had just woken up from her slumber and had sauntered lazily away from the male. She then sat down close to this massive tree that almost loomed over her and gave a regal yawned. This moment just had to be captured, because even in her languid state, to us she seemed very much the queen of the black rocks and all its surrounds.

Shortly after this photograph was taken, she sauntered over the rocks to awaken her partner.