doc bigcat studio

Big cats turn on the feline flair for daring photo shoot

A new book, called Big Cat Studio, showcases lions, tigers, leopards and more photographed against a white background in a studio, giving these images a candid and intimate feel.
Click on images for a larger view.

It's hard to tell who's enjoying this hug more: Cody or the Lion

Photographed in a specially constructed studio at The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) in South Carolina, the pictures were taken during 24 sessions over one year

Fierce, yet majestic!

"The key to producing photographs as intimate as these was the close attention and skill of the cat handlers here at T.I.G.E.R.S in Myrtle Beach," said Dr Bhagavan 'Doc' Antle, the group founder and director. "These cats have been with my dedicated team since birth and their intuitive knowledge of their behaviour was essential to the photographic shoot"

With part of the proceeds from the book going to help the conservation work Doc does in preventing the decline in population of big cats, Big Cat Studio has a serious side too.

Ngala, a four-month-old male Lion