Appearances can be deceiving. Or is it just our perception of things?
Susan says, “Flying in a pleasant, cohesive grouping just above the slick water-coated sand these birds create a happy congeniality. Their banded reflections are positively joyous. And yet these birds have a subtle viciousness with their sharply pointed wings and black dagger beaks. So what is the story with these little fellows. Are they as pleasant as they appear in a bunch or do they use those beaks in unexpected, possibly unpleasant, ways? And where are they going in such a hurry? Are they up to good or to no good? We might use this photo to tell a story about ambiguity or about appearances or maybe just about sandpipers.”
Lucia says, “Appearance is also about perception. As you walk along the shore, these sandpipers fly by you with such speed that you’re not sure if you’ve seen something. They’re there and then they’re gone. Are they an hallucination, a trick of the light? But if you stay alert and are prepared for them, you can see their beauty. They flash from black to white in the sunlight depending on the position of their wings. Their distorted reflections in the rippling water move along with them, yes, as if they were an illusion. Of course, we know they are looking for food. Lucky for us, their survival tactics become a pleasure for us to see.”
