James Lewin UK, b. 1996
28 x 40.21 in - Edition of 8
38 x 54.57 in - Edition of 6
48 x 68.93 in - Edition of 6
I often aim for my portraits, especially of predators, to be striking and imposing, which means my camera needs to be extremely close to the subject. I used a remote-controlled camera to safely capture the shot without disturbing them with a large vehicle. My remote-controlled buggy allowed me to move the camera into position and adjust the composition, a technique I mastered over the past five years.
In the morning, lions are often very active; seeing a foreign object can sometimes intrigue them. All the credit goes to the Lions for this shot; they couldn’t have positioned themselves into a better composition.
I haven’t used a remote camera since 2021, as I have designed specially modified vehicles, but images like this make me want to keep using them. It is such a low-percentage game with a high chance of losing your camera, making it such a thrilling experience when you finally get the shot.