This photo isn’t what it appears to be, though it could serve as a visual metaphor for how the world seems today. But that is not my intent.
The photo is not upside down, and it’s not an illusion. This image is exactly as I took it during a recent bird walk with about a dozen people in a park in Bridgewater, Virginia. The reason the trees seem to be growing down instead of up is that this is simply a reflection in the classy, calm North River.
In fact, if you look closely, you can see a Turkey Vulture soaring over the tree tops in the lower right-hand portion of the photo. The reason the river appears so calm is a low-head dam a few yards downstream that backs up the water. The water below the dam is the river’s normal level.
These are the artistic photographs that I love to take. Being out in nature inspires me, and I love to capture such inspirational moments for others to enjoy as well.
© Bruce Stambaugh 2026
Roadkill Crossing 
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