Atif Saeed is really lucky.

Not only did the nature photographer capture an amazing shot of a male lion in a safari park near Lahore, Pakistan, but he lived to tell the tale.

This was almost the last photo he ever shot.

As Saeed tells the Daily Mail, he spotted the lion and decided that he had to get closer.

"I was thinking — I must show the character and status of lion and this was the only way I could think of to achieve this," he said.

But some noise from the camera lens or shutter attracted the lion's attention and, just at that moment, he charged.

Saeed told the Mail that he "was laughing at that time, but now when I think back about the incident I don't think I would be able to do it again. It was a pretty close encounter."

The lion was about 10 feet away when Saeed managed to jump back into his vehicle.

It turns out that the lion didn't want his picture taken.

Check out more of Saeed's work on Facebook or 500px.

(h/t io9)