Waltz of the Ray

This image was captured on the Indian Ocean side of the UAE, in the height of summer when the water turns crystal clear and calm. I stumbled upon a group of stingrays resting on a shallow sandbank. The stillness of the sea and the angle of the sun created an extraordinary sight-countless rainbows dancing across the sand, refracted perfectly through the undisturbed surface. There wasn't a breath of wind. The conditions were ideal-glasslike water bending the light into waves of color. I lay there on the sand in front of them, surrounded by stingrays, quietly observing. It felt like they were dancing-a graceful waltz of movement and light. What struck me most wasn't just the beauty of the moment, but the contradiction in perception. These creatures, so peaceful and elegant, often inspire fear. Yet in their presence, I felt only calm. This image is a reflection of that peace-the gentleness of a misunderstood animal, gliding like a dream across the ocean floor.