I arrived at the bank of Baroro River in Sta. Rosa, San Juan, La Union, at around 1:25 pm one cloudy afternoon, as figured out that this place can be an ideal spot for my first reflection hunt in the village, but having such at this time of day seems not to be working well, as the winds keep on blowing the surface of the water. Instead of a clear shot picture, the murky water projects a hazy and blurred reflection, which in turn gives a ghostly impression of the surroundings as well as the cloudy sky, contrary to what I had seen early on the morning when the weather was calm and the soft glow of the sun perfectly lit the surroundings,creating a perfect mirror-like image on the crystal-clear water, so at this moment, I have to concentrate on the ambiance of the scene and not by relying alone on its physical features.
I pointed my camera to the east to have a view of the river heading upstream, but the water was still being swept by the wind as if making quick, gentle strokes to give hazy and distorted touches to the reflection, making the river its divine canvas. For me, this kind of eerie scene actually gave the picture its unique idyllic backdrop, which the early morning scene lacked. Capturing this kind of unexpected beauty, where nature dictates the outcome, is sometimes the best part of being a Reflection Hunter.
I carefully walked out into the flow, facing the same direction as my first upstream shot, as I want to have a firsthand experience in this river just like the way I was here in the mid-90s. The first time I set my foot in its clear shallow water was to catch shrimps and small river prawns hiding in crevices as the water runs downstream.
The way the river handles the reflection of the house is beautiful, though it is somewhat pale; the colors of the yellow walls and the blue roof are blended into the murky water, which shows the surface of the river is not just reflecting the clouds but also painting the way humans live along its banks.
Before I finished my presentation, let me ask you this: What is a perfect photo? It’s not just about the clear mirror I missed. It’s about the story the water tells. The hazy, wind-swept reflection offered authenticity. It showed the strength of the wind and the history of the river’s flow. This blurry canvas is the most honest photograph of the day, because it perfectly captures what it felt like to be standing there, rewarded with an unexpected scene. The best hunt is the one where you let nature paint the picture for you.
This is my entry for this week's Reflection Hunter's Contest #247 hosted by 