ENTRY DESCRIPTION
I have never even dreamt of encountering a moment like this. It’s a moment I thought impossible to capture with a wild leopard. But right at this second, years of searching for unique moments in the wild came together into one unforgettable experience. I couldn’t have been in a better place at a better time.

The previous afternoon, I had been at the exact location with a young male leopard hiding high up in the canopy with a bushbuck kill. The following morning, we were in the same area and could see the tree in the distance. My guide asked, shall we go back and see if that leopard is still there? There hadn’t been a photographic opportunity the day before, but I felt it would be crazy not to revisit and see if the leopard was still there, perhaps in a better part of the tree.

To our surprise, we found this large male sleeping on a low-level branch, and the bushbuck carcass was now in a different part of the tree. After a few minutes of trying to figure out what had happened during the night, we heard movement high up in the canopy, which to our astonishment, turned out to be the young male leopard moving towards the kill. It was obvious that this large male had stolen the kill for himself. With the movement high up in the canopy, the large male woke immediately and gave a warning growl. Within seconds, he stood up and walked to the bottom crook of the tree. I suddenly realised what might be about to happen and rapidly adjusted my camera settings. In a flash, the leopard leapt across to another branch and went to guard his stolen food.

AUTHOR
James Lewin is an internationally acclaimed photographic artist based in Kenya. He has built a reputation for creating timeless masterpieces that bring a unique perspective into the lives of some of the world's most iconic inhabitants. Entirely self-taught, Lewin picked up a camera after working with anti-poaching and research units on the front line of conservation in Kenya, and has since received more than 25 international awards for his evocative work.
Lewin has spent nearly a decade exploring remote areas of Africa, following his subjects for weeks, waiting patiently for extraordinary compositions that will likely never reoccur. All his photographs are of wild animals in their natural habitats, with multiple artworks captured within a few feet of his subjects using customised vehicles or on foot. The captivating levels of intimacy, emotion and drama allow the viewer to experience his subjects' magnificence and unique characters. His artistic approach aims to engage people and inspire new appreciation and respect for the natural world.

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