The Second Prize for Photography in the ENDANGERED Art & Photography Contest 2016 is shared by four wonderful images. Congratulations to Equal Second Prize Winner: Sisters, Masai Mara, Kenya by Pekka Järventaus. All Rights Reserved.

With my lion series, I am aiming to go beyond traditional documentary photography to convey the magical qualities of lions that intrigues me the most. In order to do so, I prefer to work with lions in the wild. Lions in captivity does not have the majestic presence that I look for and I want to portrait them in their natural habitat. I photograph mostly in black and white to avoid the distraction of colors. I want my images to have a timeless feel and I want to focus on shape, light and form but at the same time capture and explore the complexity and the essence of the iconic lion. I also prefer to work during stormy and rainy days. I need the sense of movement, drama and uncertainty that the wind and rain adds to the scene. It symbolizes the world in which lions live, a world of uncertainty and danger but also a world of bravery and pride.