Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter speed: 1/640 sec

ISO: ISO 90

Description: A hippopotamus in the early hours of the morning spurting out an enormous cloud of water droplets illuminated by the morning rays of sunlight.

Story from behind the lens: We were at the lily pond in the Olchoro Conservancy in the northern part of the Masai Mara, observing the wildlife in and around the water. There was a pod of hippos in the water and a few of them were particularly active on this morning. I focused on one of the more lively hippos and saw them submerge and disappear under the water. I knew they would eventually come up to the surface again, so I maintained my focus in that area. After a few minutes, it exploded up to the surface with all it vigour and spurted this enormous cloud of water droplets into the air. The water droplets being illuminated by the morning sunshine and contrasting nicely against the dark woodland background in the distance and in the shade.