"This young giraffe was no more than a few hours old," says award-winning wildlife photographer. "We watched at a distance as the young giraffe suckled, still wobbly on its legs before coming forwards towards us," captured with a 14-year-old DSLR camera

Award-winning wildlife photographer Tom Way captured a tender moment between a newborn giraffe and its mother. The striking black-and-white photograph depicts the delicate calf standing beneath its mother's legs, an encounter that may soon fade away. Way explains, "This young giraffe was no more than a few hours old when we first discovered both the mother and infant in a small thicket near the open plains of Kenya's renowned Mara North Conservancy."

The image was taken with a professional full-frame DSLR camera and a fast telephoto lens. Nikon has now declared the photo the winner of the prestigious Remembering Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. To maintain the integrity of wildlife, Way kept a safe distance, utilizing Canon's EF 1.4x III extender and capturing the moment at a focal length of 560mm.

Way recounts, "We observed from a distance as the young giraffe suckled, still unsteady on its legs before approaching us, perfectly framed between the mother's legs." Despite being recently born, a giraffe calf at this age typically reaches 6 feet in height, growing approximately an inch daily. Such young giraffes are highly susceptible and require vigilant care from their mothers to reach adulthood.

Way's photograph is featured in the 11th book of the Remembering Wildlife series titled "Remembering Giraffes," with all proceeds supporting conservation projects. Since its inception, the series has raised over £1.28 million for conservation efforts across 36 countries. As a distinguished sponsor, Nikon rewarded Way with a Nikon Z8 and a Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens. For more information on the winning images, visit the Remembering Wildlife website.