I love photos of animals against fully black backgrounds! You need to wait for the exact moment when they are standing in a ray of sunlight, while the background is entirely in the shadow. I think I have photos of at least 5 or more other animals that have a similar 'studio' look. This photo was so hard to get back then because on that old camera you had to change the light settings through menus and it wasn't very light sensitive at all, easily making these 'golden hour' photos blurry. Also, since the moment I took this photo I've seen shoe-billed storks a few more times (this was the first time I saw one, I have only visited Zoo Frankfurt once and I don't think they keep storks anymore) but I never even managed to make a half-decent photo anymore. I love how those three feathers on the back of his head stick out and are exactly lit by the sun, like a cartoon character.
Ok, I think I rambled on a bit there.