The black panther photographs I have released over the years have been popular and I imagine this image, from the autumn of 2026, will be no different; the panther’s eyes are pin-sharp, and the upward angle of my camera lens contributes​ to the palpable sense of menace.

Conveying that sense of menace is always an overriding thought when filming panthers and eye contact is crucial to achieve this goal. There must be eye-to-eye contact, which is challenging to attain with a cat as fast and bouncy as a panther. On this recent trip to Africa, I have just one file—this one. The clouds behind are a helpful addition, which is just good fortune - I am not fond of skies that offer nothing.

Black panthers evoke a wider range of emotions than any other cat. To some they are Marvel superheroes, to others they offer a gentle reminder of the human rights movement in America, but to all they are regarded as sleek and lethal. These are cats of great stealth, athleticism and aggression. Most of us - including me - don’t really know too much about them, but we admire them for what they are. They have an undeniable X-factor.