Photographer's Log Photographer's Log

Ander's Road Wetlands
There is an amazing wetlands on the borders of Washington and Rensselaer Counties, just at the edge of our Cambridge Valley. Hopefully it is far enough away from the main highways and places of interests where it will always be safe from developers with their housing projects, strip malls and super highways. It is a wonderful surprise at a bend in the road filled with myriad wildlife and lovely plant life.

The birds are a glory to listen to at sunset as they busily make ready for bedtime, gossiping with one another about their day’s adventures and plans for the coming night and ‘morrow. As the sun makes ready to set the blue herons begin to swoop in to feed and rest for the night, their powerful, graceful wings silently pushing and scooping the clean fresh air surrounding them. The deer come to the water’s edge for a last drink or graze upon the hill, casting their reflections in the still-as-glass water. Geese leave glistening wakes behind them as they cris-cross the wide silver liquid expanse.

Sunsets come here in all colors. Many are quite ordinary and some, as in Autumn, can be beautifully reflected in these splendid waters. This photo is from one of those sunsets this Autumn. The migrating geese had just launched themselves from the water leaving ripples moving lazily, gracefully towards every shoreline, the golden sunset was caressing the Autumn colors which dressed the trees and undergrowth upon the banks. I found the resulting liquid Autumn palette which danced before my lens to be spellbinding and hurried to capture it in my camera.. Then I spent the rest of that sunset just watching the liquid fire rippling across the wetland waters, slowly disappearing as the sun set below the hills, leaving the creatures bedded down for the night.

I stayed in the silence for a short while, feeling the chill dampness of the air, listening to the silence deepen. I find it intriguing that I soon became aware it seemed my place there, even as voyeur, was no longer befitting, no longer a proper part of the landscape, no longer welcome. I could almost feel the “cold shoulder” of the landscape, so to speak. I started my engine, disturbing the misty silence, and drove off. My co-existence at the wetlands is only acceptable during the hours of light. It terminates with the advance of night. The darkness is meant to keep the secrets and peace of the creatures of the wetlands. I accede. -June Mohan
Photo: (Copyright Mohan 2006) To contact the artist, please send email to: junemohan@hotmail.com