Today is World Lion Day. The mighty king of the beasts is a personal favourite. I love their profile, their intense stare, their shaggy manes. The iconic lion is a symbol of power and strength around the world. Lions are currently classified as a “threatened” species by the IUCN Red List. There are less than 39,000 lions remaining in the wild.

My aim in wildlife photography is to create images that evoke a response in the viewer. When we have an emotional reaction to a photograph our brains tell us a story. The heart informs the mind. Not everyone has the same response, that’s the beauty of art.

Watching the sun rise on the Maasai Mara fuels attention and astonishment. Seeing Africa’s iconic lions in their natural setting is like stepping through the TV screen into the magic of Africa. Even after a few years of game drives in Kenya, being in the midst of African wildlife still feels like a pinch me moment.