BRIGHT EYES

September 2006 | Original Lion and Safari Park, Gauteng, South Africa

This lion, most likely raised in captivity, met my lens with a gaze both gentle and arresting. His amber eyes shimmered in the vehicle's light as the sun was setting, filled with curiosity and something deeper. A quiet intensity that stayed with me long after I lowered the camera. Though born into a controlled environment, his presence held the quiet dignity of the wild.