Sherry Schmidtpeter

Camera: Canon R7

Lens: Sigma 150-600mm

Aperture: F/7.1

Shutter speed: 1/1000

ISO: 200

Description: Giraffe giving birth on the Mara. The baby giraffe's very first moment out of the womb and before he/she lands on the ground.

Story from behind the lens: We were travelling to a village when we came across a giraffe sitting down on the ground. We stopped to watch and when the giraffe stood up we saw that she was in labour. We waited and watched for about forty minutes until the birth. Luckily I was able to get into a position that I could capture the exact moment that life began outside the womb. Having seen a lion take a pumba the day prior, this was especially poignant to witness the beginning of the circle of life.