EVERY PHOTOGRAPHER'S FANTASY: A THREESOME WITH TWIN IMAGES OF BEAUTY

Imagine it is early morning and you're at a beautiful lake, the sweet smell of wild flowers in the air. You hear the sound of the water lapping at the shore and the birds singing. You're gazing at twin beauties in naked splendor that spread out before you: one laying on top of the other. The one on top seemingly rock hard, the one on the bottom undulating softly. Would that not be every photographer's fantasy? It is what I experienced one morning a few years ago in Banff, Canada. We were at Bow Lake in early morning, the only humans to be seen or heard. In front of us stood this sight: an almost perfect

reflection of Bow Mountain in early morning light. Should I give you all a minute to compose yourselves?? You knew this is what I was referring to, didn't you?

Our topic today is REFLECTIONS and why photographers and non photographers are fascinated by them. Whenever I post images and one is a reflection, that is the one that will always get the most positive comments. Scientifically, this type of reflection of light is called specular (mirror-like).
Reflections are in themselves symmetrical.  One of the meanings of symmetry is;  an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing, proportionately and balance such that it reflects beauty or perfection.

So maybe that is why people are fascinated by images of reflections: all that scientific reasoning or maybe there are other less scientific possibilities. Is it possible that when we see a beautiful mountain range like above that seeing it in duplicate gives us twice the pleasure? Our brain sees a scene that it recognizes as aesthetically perfect and then sees it in duplicate. Everything is naturally symmetrical: a vision of perfection. Would our brain not find that pleasing? Maybe even more pleasing than seeing the same image without the perfect reflection. Is it possible? I think it could be.

I wonder if it could also be related to our imagination and how we enjoy the manipulation of imagery. Our brain knows the reflection is not real, in that there is not another mountain range or heron, actually there, but we do  apparently see it. Is it the same 'thrill' we see in 3D movies? We know that the rocket is not really going to hit us but we enjoy seeing it and might even duck out of the way. We enjoy tricking our mind in the same way when we are taking a drink of alcohol. Our perception is thrown off, our reality is all of a sudden turned upside down. We see two of something but at another time of day, it will not be there and we know it. The fact that we can document it with our camera adds to that fascination. We can see our mind's trick whenever we want to and we are part of the magic

So is it just that the symmetry of the lines are perfect? Is it the enjoyment of seeing what is not really there? It does not always need to be an exact duplicate. Here the moon light is reflected along with the colors of the sky onto the ocean. 

What do I think?? I really do not know but I like to think it is us enjoying the manipulation of the imagery in our brain: knowing we have control over choosing to see what is arguably not really there. Letting our imagination have the right of way, seeing as a child might see and not questioning it. I would like to think so! Almost like a dream, they're not real either but they seem to be. I love to dream both when awake and when I am sleeping. In the past I was damned with the label dreamer. I have always had dreams and the ones that I experience when awake have helped shape my life. So I'll continue to believe in dreams, reflections and rainbows.

Did you know rainbows are really reflections? They are caused by the sun reflecting off of water droplets. So maybe it's the artist, dreamer or the child in me. I'll continue believing that we enjoy the romanticism of tricking of our mind, with that fantasy, that is a reflection!

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.