Simon Needham, a LA-based photographer, was visiting the GG Conservation in South Africa when he stumbled across a breathtaking scene. An big lion stood proudly on a heap of bones, surveying his domain. The atmosphere was reinforced by the atmospheric sky that encircled him, as the golden light matched the animal’s golden fur. It was the ideal shot.
Needham, who frequently collaborates with non-profits, was in South Africa to assist the sanctuary with advertising content. Over 70 lions cannot be put back into the wild for a variety of reasons, and the sanctuary is their permanent home. Needham opted to spend the morning visiting the boneyard on his visit. This is where the sanctuary disposes of carcasses once the lions have done eating.
It was a fortuitous choice for Needham, who was welcomed by a male lion seated on a heap of bones. “I wanted to create an iconic picture that will resonate with people while still being a positive, happy, and strong image,” Needham explains to My Modern Met. It is his hope that the shot would generate hope for the species and remind people of the animal’s resilience and beauty.
Needham has certainly achieved his objective with a picture that appears to be straight from The Lion King. He spends a lot of time shooting sanctuaries in South Africa, and he sells prints on his website to make a little additional money. A part of the revenues from the prints, which incorporate Lion Bones, will be donated to GG Conservation to assist them continue their aim of making their lions’ lives as pleasant as possible.
See more incredible lion photography from Simon Needham.
Simon Needham: Website | Instagram
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