An Essence of a Fleeting Purpose not Clearly Understood, well Perceived, but nevertheless, gave me a Feeling of Nature's Quiet Absurdity that may happen at times.
 |
| Peregrine Falcon Flying Directly Towards Apartment Window in Arnhem, Milnerton |
Many of you may remember this image of the peregrine falcon flying towards me - standing in my bedroom with camera in hand.
Of course the 'event' did not start off like this, there is a bit more to the story - so I thought of adding some existential context of that strange, but special Thursday afternoon.
The perception of viewing an image of a bird directly, through our lenses or our screens as a photograph as a lived experience is deeply rooted in the values of ornithology, natural science and / or emotional nuance. This is of course perceived differently by anyone viewing the same phenomenon. One can also argue there are other perceived values, such as aesthetics, existential principles and / or subjective quality or pleasure - or perhaps the opposite.
An Act of Phenomenology - The Peregrine and the Window
The perception of viewing an image of a bird directly, through our lenses or our screens as a photograph as a lived experience is deeply rooted in the values of ornithology, natural science and / or emotional nuance. This is of course perceived differently by anyone viewing the same phenomenon. One can also argue there are other perceived values, such as aesthetics, existential principles and / or subjective quality or pleasure - or perhaps the opposite.
An Act of Phenomenology - The Peregrine and the Window
For a few years now the peregrine falcon has visited my apartment high above Milnerton on regular occasions - sleeping outside the bathroom window, sometimes perched on the lounge windowsill watching me work or posing for a few images outside my front door.
Then, one Thursday afternoon, something extraordinary happened.
He flew towards my bedroom window without warning, but with intent - not once, but more than twenty times - banking sharply to the right at the last moment to avoid the large window and the wall. My 12th floor apartment is on the south-eastern corner of Arnhem, opposite Woodbridge Island (Milnerton) and from that vantage, I watched him with concerned awareness. Each flight felt deliberate, with dark eyes piercing into the human soul, over and over, deeper and deeper. Of course, he never misjudged the angle.
I photographed him at 10fps - eventually more than a thousand frames. But this image was the closest in presence with the most detail and definition (considering the poor light). It’s was not in any way a study in motion or precision. It was rather one of the special moments of human consciousness and instinct to perceive / capture many fleeting moments of a routine impermanence - for 'holding on' to just one.
An essence of a fleeting purpose not clearly understood, well perceived, but nevertheless, gave me a glimpse of nature's quiet absurdity that may happen at times. I left before he did...
It was indeed a rhythm of freedom and presence that defies ownership. It does not belong to me, yet it chooses to return again and again.
With Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
With Canon EOS 7D Mark II / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens