Aaryan Dhakal, Stare Down (July theme: Eyes)

In the heart of the outback, an intense gaze met my lens – an emu, unwavering and unafraid. Its piercing orange eyes locked onto me, a silent challenge in the midday heat. This portrait captures a fleeting moment of curiosity and wild resilience, a stare-down with nature itself.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.