Sometimes fate puts you in the right place at the right time. This was one of those mornings. There had been a rare late summer flood on the St. Croix River. On the way to Taylors Falls, we passed through Stillwater. The moment was surreal—calm, quiet and peaceful. With soft sunlight burning through the heavy fog lighting the gazebo, I waited for the lone gull to swim into the frame to complete this tranquil scene. I knew I was capturing a special moment of nature’s raw beauty, power and control. I love the simplicity of the image, yet it offers a complex symbolism.