John Dominis (American, 1921-2013) Leopard About to Kill a Terrified Baboon, Botswana, Africa, 1966 Oversized dye transfer print, printed late 1970s 21 x 39 inches (53.3 x 99.1 cm) (image/sheet) Signed in pencil, titled in wax pencil, mount verso. PROVENANCE: The artist; Ken Lieberman, owner of Ken Lieberman Labs; Private collection, acquired from the above. LITERATURE: Life Magazine, January 6, 1967, The Great Cats of Africa. Ken Lieberman Labs was one of the few photography labs capable of producing dye-transfer prints, a time-consuming and difficult process, in sizes this large. This photograph by John Dominis has remained controversial because of the ethical questions tied to its making. The dramatic scene—depicting a leopard about to attack a baboon—quickly gained recognition for its unflinching portrayal of nature's violence. Yet the image's authenticity was later called into question when Dominis acknowledged that it had been staged: a hunter had released a captured leopard into a troop of baboons for the shot. Once this became known, Dominis faced significant criticism and later expressed regret, explaining that staging photographs was a common and accepted practice in the 1960s. HID12401132022 © 2025 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice