This young male seemed blissfully unconcerned by the lightning and thunder rolling in across the Kalahari.
Hannes, who was taking night shots in the South African part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, came across him stretched out beside the track. ‘He raised his head to stare at me a couple of times,’ says Hannes, ‘but he wasn’t really interested in either me or the dramatic goings-on behind him.’ Hannes worked fast, framing the lion against the illuminated night sky at the moment a bolt of lightning flashed to the ground. ‘Just after I took this picture,’ he adds, ‘there were a few more lightning bolts and then everything went still and dark again.’
South Africa
Hannes’ love of nature began with childhood visits to game reserves from his South African home. He went on to study graphic design, became a river guide and travelled the world. When he returned to South Africa, he pursued his various interests until 2007, when he decided to become a wildlife photographer full time. He has won several awards and published three books.
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