Andy Rouse's Image

Tiger portraits are common enough (though tigers are most definitely not), but to photograph head‑on the mesmerizing gaze of an intensely focused hunter is rare.

This young tigress also gave Andy the chance to see a hunt from start to finish, on the very last drive of a recent trip to India. The young tigress stalked a herd of chital deer for a couple of hours through the long grass in Ranthambore National Park, while Andy stalked her. She followed the herd for more than a kilometre, constantly surveying for any sign of weakness or injury among the deer, before finally selecting her victim. Moments before she charged, Andy took his winning shot.