A Story of a Bird and the Moon

Having a long-time attraction to the elegance and simplicity of long exposure minimalist photography, I had an opportunity to study with an excellent Greek minimalist photographer. We photographed winter vegetation in a lake and boats and old piers in a lagoon. Leaving the camera’s shutter open for several seconds to minutes has a special effect on the water’s movement creating a silky-smooth surface, eliminating any distraction from the simple subject.

For a change of scenery, we went into the city of Thessaloniki and walked along its lagoon. I was a bit flummoxed as to what to photograph in the water as there were no dead trees nor piers nor boats, so Ijust stood still gazing around me. I noticed a sculpture off in the middle of the lagoon. It was the crescent of the moon made of metal. As I approached it,a bird landed on its tip. My camera was already on the tripod I was carrying! In seconds I clicked the shutter for a long exposure hoping the bird would not move. He completely obliged me and this was the result! I got my shot – the clean silhouette of the sculpture against the smoothness of the water was perfect and on it was a bird that stayed still.

My mother seemed to have a particular relationship with birds right up to her last hours. They seem to bring a sense of peace and calm to those with whom they connect. A flock of what appeared to be 100+ birds appeared in a tree outside my mother’s hospice room as she lay dying. As I described to her the phenomenon I was witnessing, her body relaxed, and her face became serene. Moments later as she took her last breath, the entire flock of birds instantly flew off, never to return. Ever since when I see a bird resting near me, I think of the calm and peace those birds visited upon my mother. They have become a symbol of hope for me. May this image stand as an image of peace, calm and hope for my viewers as it does for me.