The Pride of Sabi Sabi

As this blog series draws to a close, I look back at all the photographs I’ve taken in the three years that I have been a ranger here at this wonderful reserve. So many choices to choose from, the many brilliant and outstanding sightings that I have experienced, truly amazing to say the least, definitely the best times of my life. As I write this blog now, I am still undecided as to which photograph I have chosen to complete such a successful blog series. I want something that will go out with a bang. From the many different sightings each ranger has portrayed across these blogs, interesting photography techniques, beautiful moments, change of time, sad and sorrowful moments, what do I choose?

But there is one thing that stays deep in our hearts, every ranger that has worked here, past and present will forever remember these two words, the many conversations had around the fire, over drinks, with guests, family, friends, and that is “Southern Pride.”

One of the largest prides at certain times in the reserve, not the most successful but the most spectacular. They have been through such hard times, finally returning to a stable state and sadly a change in coalition of dominant territorial males and it starts all over again. At one stage in my three years as a ranger here, I witnessed twenty-one lions forming this pride, which included five fully grown females, fourteen cubs and the dominant males know as the Charleston males. Sadly, two years later they are down to five individuals that have survived the change of time. Some may feel broken hearted, hurt, sore and sad, however, these things happen, its nature, its wild, everything is born, everything must die eventually. The Southern Pride will be back to what it was, I am certain of it. The five individuals that have made it through this struggle have smashed all odds and from here on out, things can only get better. We will see the Southern Pride successful again one day and I will look back to this blog to remind you all, this is the pride that has stolen all who visit Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve’s hearts.

Equipment Used

• Camera – Canon 7D mk ii
• Lens and Focal length – Canon-EF100-400mm f-4.5-5.6 L IS USM at 170 mm

Settings used to capture this image

• ISO – 640
• Aperture – f5,0
• Shutter – 1/800

Editing used on this image

As it was quite a dull morning, I have increased highlights and the whites. Not much more editing to an image of a young lion cub sitting in the riverbed on a lovely creamy beige colour of sand. What is quite important though while positioning this shot is using the negative space around the subject to give the photograph more definition.