PHOTO: ASIF SAEED
A Lahore based photographer got lucky when he managed to capture an intimidating photograph of a lion before it tried to pounce on him.
Taken in 2012 while Atif Saeed, 38, visited the Lahore Safari Park, the picture has only recently surfaced on social media and going viral with people calling the photograph beautiful and scary.
Saeed lived to tell the cautionary tale and said "It was an adult male lion and what I liked most about him was the beautiful, dark hair on his neck."
In order to capture the animal in its natural habitat and element, the courageous photographer stepped out of his vehicle and sat on the ground a stone's throw from the lion.
"I must show the character and status of lion," Atif thought to himself at the time. This was also the only way for him to get the natural photo he wanted.
PHOTO: ATIF SAEED
The beast almost immediately noticed his presence and leaped towards him. Saeed managed to reach his car within a matter of seconds and with a great shot.
Describing the incident as "a pretty close encounter," Atif said that watching the aggressive lion approach him through the camera view finder is something that he cannot explain in words.
"I was witnessing every minute detail that no photograph or movie can show," he explained.
When questioned about whether he would do it again he said "I was laughing at that time, but now I don't think I will be able to do it again."
The photo was shared by the photographer on his Facebook page.
The stunning photograph continues to make its rounds on Twitter.
The photographer, Atif Saeed, took this moments before the lion charged him! pic.twitter.com/pSli844TUd
— Ripley's Believe It or Not! (@Ripleys) April 13, 2015
Atif Saeed, almost took his last photo ever at a safari zoo park near Lahore. Luckily, Saeed survived an attack... http://t.co/03OeytUOZv
— pakteahouse (@paktea) April 15, 2015
https://twitter.com/BrianFaughnan/status/588509506931326977
Photographer escapes with stunning picture of a lion (literally moments before it pounced) http://t.co/qPaz21Ze6r pic.twitter.com/bzcHiPIFqn
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) April 16, 2015
This article originally appeared on NDTV
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stun gunsThis man lucky to be alive while being foolish. Enjoy life it's a bonus for u bloke.