African lions are among the most captivating subjects in wildlife photography. No matter how many times you see them, there’s always something new to admire. That might mean watching the quiet authority of a dominant male, the alert focus of a lioness, or the playful energy of young cubs learning their place in the pride.

In my experience, it’s not just their strength that makes lions such powerful subjects, but their individuality. Each lion has its own presence, a distinct look, a temperament, and, often, a story.

Over time, I’ve found that black and white lion photography offers a way to showcase these qualities with greater honesty. It creates the opportunity to reveal mood, character, and strength without the distraction of colour.

Through my black and white lion photography, I aim to capture a lion’s character and to show them as an individual, as well as a fascinating and powerful creature to be admired.

I thought I’d share my thoughts on what makes black and white lion photography so compelling, along with a selection of my favourite black and white lion images. You’ll find these below, along with the stories behind them.

The timeless power of lion photography in black and white

Photographs of African lions in black and white offer a very different experience to those in colour. Colour can be beautiful. The details, such as the rich yellows and golds of the savannah and the russet-coloured lion’s mane, can be captured in the evening light, but it can also distract.

I believe that stripping colour away allows the viewer to focus on the essence of the image: texture, form, expression, and light. In black and white lion photography, every detail takes on new importance. The grain of the fur, the deep shadow beneath the mane, the glint of a watchful eye - these all become more apparent.

Photographing lions, African large cats and, well, any wildlife, in black and white, is about distilling the moment to its purest visual elements. Without colour, contrast becomes the storyteller. For me, that’s what makes this style of wildlife photography so enduring. It’s honest, simple, and timeless.

While digital tools make the process more accessible today, black and white wildlife photography still demands patience, restraint, and a clear vision for tone and texture. Exposure, tonality, and composition must work in harmony to convey a sense of mood and realism.

African Lions: Iconic big cats

I’ve spent many years photographing African lions in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It’s a place where I’ve been fortunate to encounter some of the most iconic animals, and over that time, I’ve come to understand that no two lions are the same.

Each lion has its own unique story. The dominant males with their battle-scarred faces, the watchful females guarding their cubs, the younger ones testing their strength and learning the hierarchy of the pride. When you slow down and observe them over days or even weeks, you begin to see these personalities emerge.

In that way, lion photography isn’t about spectacle; it’s about patience and quiet observation. It’s waiting for that moment of stillness, that look or interaction that tells a story without words. Black and white lion photography amplifies these moments.

My approach has always been straightforward: portray the animal’s personality truthfully, without chasing or manipulating the image.

Why black and white lion photography matters

When I first began experimenting with black and white wildlife photography, it wasn’t to chase a style or trend. It was an instinctive way to portray the animals as I saw them. In colour, you see the scene; in monochrome, you feel the subject.

The African large cats I photograph, whether they be dominant males or quieter, more reflective individuals resting in the grasslands, reveal something new every time. A black and white portrait invites you to linger a little longer, to look beyond the surface and into the eyes, where the true story is told.

In the sections below, I’ll share some of my favourite black and white lion images, including Flehmen Response and Six Kings, which are both available as fine art prints in my online store, and several others.

Each image represents a moment of connection and respect and serve as a reminder of why lions remain the most captivating subjects in black and white photography.

Fine art black and white lion portraits

Flehmen Response

I took this one in 2010, long before today's relative commonality of ground-level elephant pictures. Fifteen years ago, there were no side-less vehicles or flip-out screens, so the only option really was to hang a camera upside down out of a vehicle window using a monopod and hope for the best.

There was no means of seeing what we were taking, so composing was hit or miss unless you used a wide-angle lens, and even then it was still so. Moving subjects were more difficult to do because you had to prefocus. At first, I captured mostly sky or grass, but you soon got better at aiming in the right direction with some practice.

This is one picture where I’ve never been able to decide which I prefer, the black and white or the colour one.

Flehmen Response became a landmark picture for me — it was the first image that made me realise there are no “ordinary” lions. The male, later identified as Lolparpit, carried himself with a level of dignity and awareness that was almost human.

Taken on a vast plain in Kenya, far from the familiarity of home, the moment was one of recognition — not of dominance or power, but of sentience.

The photograph was awarded in Nature’s Best Photography Awards in 2012 and later became the opening picture in my book As Long as There Are Animals. It also marks the point where I began to see lions as individuals rather than symbols — as beings with thoughts, emotions, and an inner life of their own.

Six Kings

The Six Kings are six of the Maasai Mara’s most iconic lions: Caesar, Morani, Notch, Lipstick, Lolparpit, and Scar.

This image was made to celebrate their individuality. To show that African lions are not all the same, but each has a distinct look, personality, and story.

Regular visitors to the Mara may recognise these faces. Notch, born into the Marsh Pride around 1998, fathered Caesar. Scar and Morani were two of the famous “Four Musketeers” before moving east to Serena. Lipstick arrived in 2013 with his brother Blackie and remained until 2018. Lolparpit, whom I also photographed for Flehmen Response, lived to an impressive sixteen years before passing in 2020.

Each large cat portrait was composed with intention, with minimal cropping and careful attention to detail. Together, they form a visual tribute to six lions who helped shape my understanding of the species — proud, sentient, and profoundly individual.

Dead Eye

As of 2025, this is still the cleanest image I have of a lion on a buffalo I have had the privilege to witness. One buffalo, two lions, one vehicle, one driver, and me, in March 2017. And one award too.

I think it was twenty minutes from the point that two lions isolated and brought down this buffalo to its last breath. While it was a privilege to witness, it was also poignant to hear the last breath of an animal at the end of its life. Particularly poignant was that the buffalo died while trying to help another.

Lion conservation

Lions face increasing pressure from habitat loss and conflict with humans, and their numbers continue to decline across much of Africa. I believe that powerful photography can help keep these animals in the public consciousness, reminding us that they are worth protecting.

Proceeds from my work help support conservation and ethical safari initiatives in Kenya, ensuring that these incredible animals continue to thrive for generations to come.

Explore the black and white lion photography collection

Enjoyed this? Then please continue to browse my website and explore my black and white lion photo prints and other limited-edition wildlife art. Flehmen Response and Six Kings are currently available as limited-edition fine art prints in my online store.

Please note that the curated print collections are regularly revised and updated, and many prints are available only for a limited time. Keep checking the store for new additions.

David

Black and White Lion Photography: Capturing Power and Elegance