The Story Behind My Signature Photograph
If there is one photograph I’ve taken over the years that I can humbly label as my “signature” photo it is Upon Reflection. You know, the image that adorns the masthead of my website’s Home page and my newsletter mailings, as well as the largest and most prominent print I display at my art festivals. Yeah, it’s the Red-Tailed Hawk looking at itself in the water like Narcissus of Greek mythology.
I love telling the story at art festivals of how that shot came together and why it is one of the most unique photos I’ve ever taken so I will repeat it here for those unfamiliar with it.
It all happened on October 17, 2022. I don’t even need to look up the date because October 17th is my favorite day of the year and has been since the early 1980s! It’s a long story as to why that maybe I’ll write about some day but for now just know it’s always a great day for me and that October 17 did not disappoint.
The day started off as nothing special, except, of course, for those gorgeous fall reflection colors in the lake. (As always, I recommend clicking on any image below to enlarge the photo for full enjoyment)
The bridge at Sterne Park's lake on October 17, 2022 with vivid fall colors all around
I had taken my camera to Sterne Park here in Littleton to hopefully capture some Wood Ducks that frequent the park’s lake every October while migrating through our area. They indeed graced the Park as evidenced by these photos.
Then I noticed a Black-Capped Chickadee going to town eating dried seed pods in a tree. The normally shy bird could care less as I approached, opting for the lure of those seeds over its innate fear of human interaction.
Black-Capped Chickadee plucks a dried seed pod off a tree
And then suddenly the small birds in the park, as well as the ducks, began sounding their alarms as they (correctly) perceived danger lurking nearby. Indeed, I was standing next to one of the park’s decorative lamp posts when I looked up and saw this Red-Tailed Hawk looking back at me.
I first noticed the Red-Tailed Hawk as it sat on a lamp post in the park
I would have been perfectly happy to go home with that shot but then it flew into a nearby tree and “framed” itself, affording me this image below.
The same Red-Tailed Hawk sitting in tree "framed" by branches
Now I had TWO shots I would have gladly ended the day with, but the big surprise was yet to come. The hawk left the tree and then flew down, seemingly into the lake. Because there is a berm next to the water there, I couldn’t see what the hawk was doing. So I snuck up behind it, hid in a bush, and discovered the hawk literally in the water.
The Red-Tailed Hawk jumped into the water of the lake. The prevalence of white on its breast may indicate that it is a juvenile.
This surprised me as hawks only occasionally dip themselves in water, generally only on hot days which this wasn’t. It then began to drink some water, yet another rarity for hawks as they normally get all the nourishment they need to quench their thirst from the blood of prey.
Same Red-Tailed Hawk opens its beak in the water
A second or two later the hawk was dribbling water out of its beak
I furiously began to snap the shutter button to capture a sequence of shots of this unusual scene. The colors of the surrounding trees and nearby reeds really added to an already special image.
And the image entitled Upon Reflection of the hawk seemingly staring at itself in the water
The print of this image has been displayed in art galleries in Louisiana and Colorado and seems to be a favorite of festival goers. And it certainly kept my tradition of lucky October 17ths alive and well that year!
(I’d love to hear any comments you have. Feel free to leave them below.)