Photographer spends ten years capturing incredible sepia portraits of big cats

• Photographer Goran Anastasovski captured the astonishing series of sepia snapshots of the big cats over 10 years
• The 46-year-old documented the behaviour of animals such as lions, tigers and leopards at Skopje Zoo, Macedonia
• He insisted that the photographs show that big cats have a lot of the traits humans value - such as love and bravery 

By Imogen Calderwood For Mailonline

Published: 5 January 2016

This series of spectacular sepia shots gives a stunning insight into the lives of the big cats at a Macedonian zoo - where a dedicated photographer spent 10 years recording their behaviour.

Photographer Goran Anastasovski devoted a decade of his life to taking snapshots of the lions, tigers and leopards when at their most unguarded and intimate.  

The 46-year-old, from Macedonia, hoped to emphasise the animals' human qualities in the photographs, taken at Skopje Zoo in Gradski Park, Macedonia. 

Personality: Photographer Goran Anastasovski devoted a decade of his life to taking this series of astonishing snapshots of big cats

Incredible detail: The sepia photographs give an insight into the lives of the big cats living at Skopje Zoo in Gradski Park, Macedonia

'I adore big cats and am fascinated with their beauty, said Anastasovski. 

'I took these photos to show people that these cats have everything we so desperately want - such as love, bravery, sincerity and loyalty. 
 

'My goal is to introduce people to the beauty and character of the big cats.

'They are endangered animals and they should be loved, not killed.'

Anastasovski's images show leopards, lions and tigers in surprisingly relaxed poses, with many of them sharing intimate moments with their companions.

Affectionate: The 46-year-old photographer said the snapshots show that big cats have a lot of personality traits that human beings value

Caring: He said the animals' behaviour clearly shows 'love, bravery, sincerity and loyalty' as he studied them over 10 years at the zoo

Intimate: A number of the photographs show the big cats interacting in pairs, while others are solo shots of the animals roaring

Companions: Here, two leopards living at the Skopje Zoo share a quiet moment, unaware that they are being watched by the photographer

Some of the shots show pairs of animals together in affectionate poses, while others feature the big cats snarling and staring at the camera.

Anastasovski admitted that, despite the bond he feels with the cats, they would waste no time in having him for dinner.

'I visit them very often and I think that they know me very well,' he said..

'The interesting thing is that after all these years they still try to eat me after they see the lens.'

Danger: Even after 10 years of interacting with the animals, Anastasovski is under no illusions that the animals would be gentle with him,

Watching: The photographer laughed that despite all his time with the animals, they still try to eat him the moment they spot the lens

Intense: The series captures the animal's faces in enchanting detail, with the photographer hoping to emphasise their human qual

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