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You don’t have to go on safari to get amazing shots of big cats – Adam Waring shows you how to photograph lions and cheetahs in a wildlife pak

- Adam Waring

4 HOURS

Wildlife doesn’t get wilder than lions, tigers and jaguars. But jetting off to Africa, Asia or South America to go on safari isn’t cheap, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll track down these fierce but fascinating felines if you do.

Wildlife parks, on the other hand, offer guaranteed access to these amazing animals. The drawback is that there’s a physical barrier between you and them – which is no bad thing, considering these are predators that would see a photographer as a tasty snack – but by following our tips, you can take brilliant natural-looking images that look like they could have been shot in the wild.

You’ll need to get closer access than a regular zoo can provide, so we headed to The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, UK, a charitable organisation that’s dedicated to the conservation of these animals. We photographed lions and cheetahs under the guidance of Lead Photographer Alma Leaper, who not only advised us on photographic techniques, but was able to encourage the cats into the best spots. The cats reacted to her, and she was able to guide them into position with the help of treats thrown into their enclosures.

STEP BY STEP NAIL MAJESTIC-LOOKING BIG-CAT PORTRAITS