Our first trip to the Nadabet Wetlands was drawing to a close. As we drove back home, the sun was sinking toward the horizon, and we couldn't stop talking about the incredible day we had just experienced—the vast open landscapes, the birds, and the sheer beauty of the place. It already felt like a perfect ending.

Then, from the moving car, my friend Aryan spotted a lone Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) walking across the horizon. Behind it, the setting sun painted the sky in warm golden hues. We immediately stopped the car, jumped out, and ran toward the scene. We instantly envisioned placing the animal against the glowing sun to create a striking silhouette.

Getting the image was far from easy. The wild ass kept moving, forcing us into a constant routine of crouching low, framing the shot, standing up, running to reposition ourselves, and dropping back down again—repeating the process over and over in the hope that everything would align for a single frame.

Eventually, it did.

This photograph became the final image of our first journey to Nadabet—a fitting conclusion to a day that remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life.

Life, Land & Light

The photographer