A Monster with Orange Eyes by Sarvenaz Saadat

While traveling through the agricultural landscapes near Abyek, the photographer discovered an abandoned garden that served as a sanctuary for a group of horned owls. The encounter began with the sighting of a single owl, but soon revealed a dozen others, all observing the photographer with intense, amber-hued eyes. Approaching with extreme caution to avoid disturbing the wildlife, the photographer captured this striking portrait. The image is award-worthy for its rare, intimate connection with a elusive subject, showcasing the photographer's patience and ability to document the silent, watchful presence of nature in its raw, undisturbed state.

A Monster with Orange Eyes by Sarvenaz Saadat
Copyright Β© Sarvenaz Saadat
Light & Composition Photo of the Day

Sarvenaz Saadat

REGISTERED PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in 1988, Sarvenaz Saadat is an architect and dedicated nature photographer based in Karaj, Iran. Her work is deeply influenced by her passion for wildlife and landscape photography, as well as her background as an amateur birdwatcher. With a long-standing commitment to documenting the wilderness, she continuously seeks to refine her craft through formal art and photography studies. Her portfolio reflects a profound appreciation for the natural world, capturing the quiet, fleeting moments of life in the wild with a keen and observant eye.

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10.6/20
RESONANCE
SCORE
150/500
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Award Reach | Reviews
6,649 views | 10 Reviews
Award Winner Photo of the Day
Award Date June 6, 2021
68.0
AWARD SCORE
Value 13.0
Clarity 13.0
Composition 18.0
Style 12.0
Skill 12.0
Photograph Location
Qeshlagh, Abyek, Qazvin Province, Iran

AWARD SEGMENT | TAGS

Sarvenaz Saadat Photography
Wildlife Photography

Resonance Score Breakdown

Transparency in Award Scoring

Transparency Note: The resonance score (10.6/20) is calculated based on social engagement metrics collected before the award announcement.

Social Shares
3.6/5 points
720/1,000 Social Share
Page Views
5.0/5 points
6,649/2,500 Page View
Reviews
0.5/5 points
10/100 Review
Submissions
1.5/5 points
150/500 Submission
Jury Score: 68.0/80
Resonance Score: 10.4/20
Total Award Score: 78.4/100

Expert Photography Reviews · 4

Nadia Osei Cultural Representation, Authenticity & the Ethics of the Gaze Expert Review
Those amber eyes pierce through the frame, but what are they actually seeing? Saadat claims this is nature in its raw state, yet I can’t shake the feeling of intrusion. Does the owl’s stillness signify sanctuary or a paralyzed response to a human presence? It’s unsettling. I find myself holding my breath, wondering if we’re documenting a wild life or merely cornering it for our own aesthetic consumption. Whose gaze holds the real power here?
Victoria Ashby Wildlife, Nature & the Ethics of the Unseen Moment Expert Review
Twelve owls in one frame? That’s a staggering density for such elusive predators. I’ve spent enough freezing dawns in blinds to know that getting this close without flushing the entire roost is nearly impossible. It’s a haunting, amber-eyed stare that chills me to the bone. Yet, I’m left wondering: was this proximity earned through days of silent, invisible presence, or was it simply a lucky, intrusive stumble? If the birds didn't fly, it’s truly remarkable.
Sophie Delacroix Emotional Narrative, Viewer Response & Psychological Impact Expert Review
Before the eye identifies the feathers, something in the chest tightens. It’s the amber gazeβ€”those orange eyes don’t just look; they anchor you. I’ve felt that sudden, sharp stillness before, the way a predator’s focus demands your total surrender. Returning to this a year later, the silence of that abandoned garden still hums in my ears. It’s an unsettling, beautiful weight. I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the owl to finally blink.
Catherine Byrne Photographic History, Canon & the Long View Expert Review
Those amber eyes evoke the haunting, frontal intensity of early ethnographic portraits, yet here they pierce through the avian stillness of an Iranian garden. It’s a departure from the romanticized wildlife tradition of Eliot Porter; instead, Saadat captures a raw, unsettling gaze that feels almost human. I’ve spent decades cataloging the natural world, but this confrontation genuinely unnerved me. It’s a rare, piercing dialogue between lens and predator that feels entirely, refreshingly new.
Reflections on this Photograph
By Astrid Halvorsen

The Weight of a Gaze

There is a specific quality to the light just before a storm breaks in the high north, a heavy, bruised yellow that seems to press against the glass.

Read the reflection →
By Owen Callister

The Architecture of Vigilance

The Great Horned Owl possesses a specialized arrangement of feathers around its eyes that acts like a parabolic dish, funneling the faintest vibrations of the forest floor directly into its ears.

Read the reflection →

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