TITLE: Big Cats in the Rain!

Rain not only seems to bring out great depth of emotion in big cats, but also offers us the opportunity to get creative with both photography settings and processing. This series shows some wild lions, leopards and cheetahs caught in the rain in the Masai Mara, Kenya. ‘Fortitude’ and ‘Nowhere to Hide’ were photographed backlit and under-exposed in camera and in processing, to tell the story of the lions through rim lighting and stark contrast. ‘Neema’s Frown’ shows the frustration of Neema the cheetah, who had to cope with a sharp shower while still grumpy over a failed hunt. ‘Swaying in the Rain’ shows that it is possible to enjoy the rain as well! ‘Wilting’ and ‘Undampened’ show the late leopard Fig, firstly wilting in the rain and then walking purposefully to seek refuge. 'Playful when Wet' shows three cubs and their unbridled joy to be playing in the rain on top of a large rock. "Some rain must fall' shows a mother and cub taking a seemingly philosophical view about the rain, in choosing to stay exposed, reminding us of Longfellow's words: “Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall.”

AUTHOR: Preeti and Prashant Chacko (India)

We are Preeti and Prashant Chacko, Indian photo artists. Together, we go by the handle “Composing the Wild”. Our work celebrates nature through the beauty of its wild animals, photographed in timeless black and white. We favour monochrome for its ability to distil emotion and to create a vision of a time past but hopefully never lost.

What inspires us is not just the visual drama of the wild, but the emotion it stirs. Over years of photography, we’ve learned that the images we cherish most are those that express beauty and emotion. Through our lens, we try to portray the grace of the wild and invite viewers to see these beings not as beasts, but as wonders worthy of awe, empathy, and protection.