Camera: Nikon z6ii

Lens: VR 200-500

Aperture: f/22

Shutter speed: 1/1250

ISO: 5000

Description: Juvenile Tawny Eagle silhouetted against the rising full moon

Story from behind the lens: After a long drive searching for the Sausage Tree Pride that looks us almost to the Tanzanian border, we were hurrying back at dusk when we saw this Tawny eagle silhouetted against the blue-black sky. The moon was well below the eagle, and as my always incredible guide Douggy pulled forward just a bit, I was able to get my first target image with the eagle appearing to stand on the upper rim of the moon. Shooting full manual, I'd moved to F22 and a 5000 iso as I tried to hold the light in the sky and keep the eagle and bare tree sharp without losing focus on the moon. At our angle, the moon was rising so fast that I had to shoot fast. At that point I realized that by moving another foot forward, I'd have one shot at the perfect full silhouette, a photo I could not have gotten without Douggy's experience and knowledge.