At first glance, the above image looks like a pretty conventional (if exceptionally well-timed) snap of a leopard prowling the savannah at night. But if you take a longer, closer look, you’ll see that something strange emerges. Within the leopard is what looks like reflections of the stars and the night sky. It looks like Photoshop or fancy editing – but it’s a very real, genuine photograph.
So, how did it end up like that? Honestly, we’re not sure. The shot was taken by British photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, with the help of his home-built ‘BeetleCam’ technology. Using a remote control buggy, Burrard-Lucas managed to capture a shot of the leopard: a largely nocturnal animal that’s usually pretty difficult to catch on camera. The result is totally transfixing.
Burrard-Lucas won the ‘living world’ category at the 2021 Travel Photographer of the Year Awards. Featuring categories ranging from ‘landscapes & adventures’ and ‘people & their stories’ to ‘green world’, the winners were as mesmerising as ever. Here are a few more of our favourites:
This impressionist-like snowscape
This exceptionally calm rural scene
This pleasing shot of camels reflected on a beach
This close-up of an icy grizzly
This cute mountain town
This eerie flamingo formation
And this ridiculously brave skier
