The Greeks believed that herons were messengers from the gods Athena and Aphrodite. Athena was the goddess of wisdom. Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty. Homer tells of a heron sent from Athena in the Iliad.

This great blue heron seems to be surveying his domain as dawn breaks over his pond. While he appears to be walking on the water, he’s actually standing on a submerged rock.
I’ve been photographing wildlife on this pond in the White Mountain National Forest since 2012. There has been a single pair of great blue herons each year. They’re skittish and can be hard to photograph. But, once or twice a year, they pose for a beautiful shot.

This is a digital photography printed on aluminum using the dye sublimation process. It is ready to hang. This image is also available in other sizes and surfaces.