AMUS AND THE OSPREY

Documenting conservation from inside the organisation.

On 19 July 2024, AMUS called me to officially document the release of a rehabilitated osprey back into the wild in Extremadura, Spain. The assignment came through a relationship of trust built over previous photographic work with the organisation and its conservation projects.

That established relationship gave me the opportunity to document the story from inside, from the final stages of rehabilitation and preparation to the weighing, handling and release of the bird, on the banks of the Guadiana River, the natural border between Spain and Portugal and the people responsible for returning it to the wild.

Working in a conservation environment requires patience, observation, discretion and an understanding of how to work around both people and wildlife. My approach is documentary-led, allowing the people, processes and important moments to unfold naturally while remaining ready to capture the decisive moment.

The story is about more than the osprey itself. It is about the people, expertise, care and conservation work behind its return to the wild, and the relationship between an organisation and the environment it is working to protect.

Being trusted by AMUS to officially document this event demonstrates my ability to build long-term working relationships, gain access and work independently within specialist environments, producing photography that communicates both the human story and the wider purpose behind an organisation's work.