James Lewin, Our Kingdom, 2023

In Our Kingdom (2023), James Lewin presents an intimate and commanding portrait of the lion — the eternal emblem of strength and sovereignty — through a lens of reverence and proximity rarely achieved in wildlife photography. The black-and-white composition transforms the savannah into a stage of quiet majesty, where a lion and lioness stand united beneath an expansive African sky. Every detail — from the texture of their fur to the faint reflection in the puddled earth — reinforces the tactile immediacy of their world, inviting viewers into a realm both raw and regal.

Lewin’s perspective is deeply cinematic yet profoundly grounded. By positioning the camera at eye level, he collapses the distance between subject and observer, giving the lions a monumental presence that feels almost human in its emotional gravity. The male’s steady, unflinching gaze embodies dominance and guardianship, while the lioness behind him exudes alertness and grace — together, they form a portrait of balance and partnership that mirrors the natural order of their domain.

Rendered in monochrome, Our Kingdom transcends documentation, distilling the essence of wild power into form, light, and contrast. The grayscale palette strips away distraction, revealing the sculptural harmony of muscle and movement beneath the open sky. Lewin captures not just two lions, but the soul of an ecosystem — an unspoken understanding that this land, vast and untamed, belongs to them.

In Our Kingdom, Lewin continues his mission to reframe wildlife as art — dignified, emotional, and elemental. The work stands as a testament to coexistence and respect, a reminder that the wild is not a spectacle to be observed, but a world to be revered.