Night pride - Cristobal Serrano Perez - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007: Behaviour: Mammals - Highly Commended

Cristobal Serrano Perez Enlarge image Night pride

Cristobal Serrano Perez (Spain)

Night pride

'I spent five long, humid nights photographing the animals coming to drink in Namibia's Etosha National Park. As this pride approached, I could hear them breathing. The camera flash is reflected back from their eyes as they glance towards me across the water, quite unfazed.' Lions hunt mostly at night, though they take advantage during hot periods to ambush animals drinking at waterholes during the day. They eat hoofed animals, but occasionally try elephant or rhino, and snack on the odd rodent, hare or bird. Like all big cats, they are affected by growing human populations and most live in protected areas.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II + Canon EF 400mm f2.8L II USM lens and extender EF 1.4x II; 1/250 sec at f5.6; ISO 400; flash; fresnel lens, tripod.