It is just before dawn in the Masai Mara. We find a pride of lions close to camp eating what remains of a wildebeest so we stop to check them out. I spot the male approaching the pride from a distance. When he gets close he is stopped in his tracks by the seductive smell of one of the female’s urine. Animal love is complicated, and sometimes a bit intrusive!

This is normal behaviour for many animals – and knowing animal behaviour helps photographers anticipate a potential photo opportunity and be prepared for it. In this particular instant I knew that after the sniffing comes the flehmen response, but that is another photo

Techs: Canon 5D Mark 3 | Canon 200-400L f4 IS with 1.4 Extender @ 400mm | f4 | 1/500s | ISO 3200.