I had seen and photographed several tigers before I got this picture, but this one was special. We had heard from the guide in our jeep, that during the night, just next to the biggest lake in this part of the Ranthambore National Park, that the resident female tiger had made a kill of a large antelope. Consequently I knew that her and her three cubs would feed all night, probably in the dense reeds around the lake and by the time we arrived the next morning, there was a good chance she and her cubs would eventually emerge. They of course would need to drink. Sure enough, with the mist gently resting on the lake’s surface we quietly arrived and took up position. We did not have to wait long and the mother was the first to emerge. She exhibited no caution as she brazenly sauntered into the grassy area next to the water and lay down almost spitting distance from my jeep. This was closer than I ever thought was possible to get to this majestic animal and the pictures I was able to take were immensely gratifying. I felt so lucky after we had seen the family for some thirty minutes before they returned to their meal in the thick reeds. Amazingly the following day’s experience was even better.