Long Wooden Eye At a Short Distance

I cannot think of a better photo to kick off the field notes section. I have a strained relationship with this photo, like with life. I really loved the photo when I first shot it. I was experimenting with photographing some textures and just everyday things around the house when I saw this eye in an old wooden fence. Macro photography is not really my thing, but I was determined. I shot the photo, did minimal edits, and posted it on social, so excited to post my wooden eye. It landed with a colossal thud. No interest. This space will be a personal space for just such notes, telling you about the thuds and the personal stories behind the wooden eye. 

The title of the post is a saying my dad used to say to us kids growing up. In Afrikaans, he would say 'Ek watch jou met n lang hout oog op n short distance', yes, with some English words mixed in there. Ultimately, translating to the post's title, 'I am watching you with a long wooden eye at a short distance', a parental warning indicating his watchful eye.

During the holidays, these little memories have special significance if you have lost both parents. The post also has another significance in that it was shot at my children's home in New Zealand, very far away from Cape Town, where I am writing this. I miss them very much! Well, there you go, the Long Wooden Eye and it was shot at a short distance - Nikon 105mm Macro lens, 1/80, f20, ISO 200 on my Nikon D750.

Adriaan Buys, PhD

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

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A research consultant, environmentalist, and photographer dedicated to wildlife preservation. As the founder of Conservation Mag, he leads the publication’s mission to bridge the gap between rigorous science and public awareness.

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