Shot at 1/1000 sec, "rare and fleeting animal behaviour, made unforgettable by the setting sun" scoops Gold in photo competition

A giraffe shakes its head, creating a halo of sparkling water droplets against a dark background. The scene is dramatic and lively, highlighting the giraffe's silhouette — This mesmerizing wildlife image wis big in prestigious nature photography competition, beating thousands of submissions from around the world (Image credit: Vaidehi Chandrasekar / World Nature Photography Awards)

Photographer Vaidehi Chandrasekar won the top honor in the Behaviour - Mammals category at the World Nature Photography Awards – one of the world’s leading nature and wildlife photography competitions.

Shot at Boteti River in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana, Chandrasekar captured a giraffe shaking its head, creating a halo of soaring water droplets against an almost black background. The wildlife shot is technically perfect and artfully introduces drama as well as detail to the scene.

To capture Water ballet, Chandrasekar worked with a pro Nikon mirrorless camera with a 45.7MP full-frame sensor and a US$14,000 400mm Z lens with built-in 1.4x tele-converter. The combination of exceptional use of light, high-resolution mirrorless, and spectacular performing prime optic delivered stunning image quality with strong visual impact.

'Water ballet'

Nikon Z9 hands-on — The Nikon Z9 is the most important Nikon camera of the mirrorless era (so far…), packing 120fps bursts, 2½ hours of 8K video and constant evolution (Image credit: Future)

Tech details
Gear: Nikon Z9 + Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
Exposure: 1/1000sec, f/5.6, ISO 400

About the shot
"As the sun dipped low over the dry Makgadikgadi landscape in Botswana, a lone giraffe stepped to the water’s edge. Towering and graceful, it bent its long legs, lowering its neck for a drink.

"Then came a moment of magic. Having taken its fill, the giraffe lifted its head - and with a gentle swish, expelled a stream of water in an arc that shimmered in the golden light. The droplets danced in the air, forming a near-perfect circle before falling back to the earth.

"With the animal's outline enhanced by the rim lighting, golden reflections sparkled off the airborne water.

"A rare and fleeting behaviour, made unforgettable by the setting sun. My desire was to capture the interplay of the golden light and the motion of the swishing of the water."

To discover more award-winning photographs, visit the World Nature Photography Awards.

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Kim is a photographer, editor and writer with work published internationally. She holds a Master's degree in Photography and Media and was formerly Technique Editor at Digital Photographer, focusing on the art and science of photography. Blending technical expertise with visual insight, Kim explores photography's time-honored yet ever-evolving role in culture. Through her features, tutorials, and gear reviews, she aims to encourage readers to explore the medium more deeply and embrace its full creative potential.

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