5:45 AM. I feel a cold, wet spot on my leg. Kane, my Border Collie, is telling me it’s time to get up. Perfect timing—I’m heading to Reserva Natural de s'Albufereta for a sunrise shoot with the full moon setting.

Within 20 minutes, the dog, and cats are fed, and my camera bag is packed. Dawn is breaking now, and in the distance over the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, the full moon still glows. My plan is a landscape shot, capturing the golden sunrise light with the moon slipping behind the mountains.

A quick 10-minute drive and a 5-minute walk take me to an open field with a lone tree framed by the mountain backdrop. The moon’s still a little too high for the perfect shot, but not by much. I set up my tripod and Nikon Z8. The moon looks tiny through the 35 mm lens, so I swap in the 600 mm to grab a detailed shot. Then I switch back to the 35 mm for the field, mountains, and tree.

The idea is to blend the large moon into the landscape in post-production. Purists might scoff, but this isn’t documentary photography today—it’s about creating something pleasing. Artistic licence, and I’ll make sure anyone who sees the image knows that.

With the moon and landscape shots done, I head to the hide to check on the local birds. A couple of black-winged stilts are busy protecting their young, the early morning light glinting off the water, making for a beautiful scene.

All in all, a peaceful couple of hours in the early sun—thanks to Kane, my ever-prompt Border Collie.