Western ospreys are native to the United Arab Emirates. They are usually found near the coast, but at the start of winter, they venture inland to desert ponds, where fish are abundant and easy to catch. They linger there for about a month, hunting, before the arrival of other winter visitors. Every year, I photograph them in the same region, gradually learning their behavior.

I’ve always found that ospreys look especially amusing when they stare straight at you. With their round yellow eyes and expressive features, they often seem to be in a mild panic, which makes them irresistibly funny. I wanted to capture that moment. In the area where the osprey usually perches, there’s an old wooden log on the desert floor. Because it’s so low to the ground, the bird rarely chooses it as a perch. After many patient hours and countless failed attempts, one lucky day, as I hoped it might settle there, the osprey finally did and that’s how I got this shot