Broedende zwarte sternen c. 1870 - 1940

This is a black and white stereo photograph called 'Broedende zwarte sternen' by Adolphe Burdet. Look at all the little reeds; you can tell the artist was knee-deep in nature, probably sinking into the mud as he took it. Imagine Burdet, squinting, framing these little brooding black terns. What's he thinking? Is he trying to capture the stillness, or the flurry of wings? The gray tones are so evocative, like a memory fading at the edges. What I love about this is the sense of a moment captured, a fleeting glimpse into a secret world. It reminds me of a time I tried to paint birds in flight, a total disaster, but it taught me to respect the hustle of nature. And those wings, just a blur, a ghost of movement. You can feel Burdet’s breath held, just for a click. We’re all just trying to catch something real, right?