Sometimes I snap a photo I'm so stoked about that I literally rub my eyes and look again to make sure it actually happened... This was one of these moments.

It was a calm morning in the Algarve Region of Portugal. My partner and I arrived at this beach just before sunrise. We sat down and enjoyed the peacefulness of the sea as we waited for the first signs of golden hour.

Finally, the sun came up. This sunrise came FAST. Before we knew it the sun was exploding over the rock formations at the end of the beach, painting the already golden sand with extravagant light. What really caught my eye were the long shadows dancing across the beach.

I quickly scrambled through my bag and launched my drone into the sky. I knew this wouldn't last long and that I was literally racing the sun. I composed my image and just as I took the photo a bird glided gently into frame.

I knew right then and there that I had just made one of my favourite photographs of all time.