This morning I was looking though the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio, marveling at how some of the pictures had been achieved. The overall winner is a photo of a wolf caught jumping mid-flight over an old rickety gate into a farmer's enclosure. The patience that the photographer, Jose Luis Rodriguez, must have had to capture this ultimate shot is astounding.
But the photograph that really captured me is one of a lion, its whole head caked in blood, full to the brim with buffalo and staring straight down the lens and into the photo. I love the comment about the 'stench of death' which came from the carcass every time the lions moved it. It really brings it alive. The photo is captivating as the lion is looking into your soul - and seeing you as a chop as Alex the Lion saw is friend Marty the Zebra in the film Madagascar. It transported me back to the plains of Africa.
I have been lucky to see a lion kill, watch the pride descend on the carcass to devour it, the snarling and growling as the choice pieces are fought over and to smell the 'stench of death' as lionesses emerge from inside the body cavity of an antelope. It is a privilege to watch nature where life and death is often rolled into one. It is the raw nature of Africa and a fascinating spectacle to watch.
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