War of the Worlds

Friday morning the air was crisp and a thin frost blanketed the earth. Clouds dominated the sky, frustrating my desire for a perfect reflective sunrise at Arlington Reservior.

My boots crunch on the crispy earth as I wander around this artificial lake looking for a composition. Small clusters of birds sit out on the water and the occasional grebe pops up from nowhere.

My hope is for a burst of light, a murmuration or flock of birds, a strong point of focus to make the obvious reflection more interesting.

This man made structure juts out of the peaceful surroundings looking like a disastrous birdhide complete with barbed wire and warnings. I snuck beneath for an unusual composition that reminds me of the War of the Worlds fighting machines, “Boilers on stilts.”