Some folks think self awareness (the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals) is a trait restricted to humans but studies using a variety of higher animals have demonstrated self awareness in other species too. And many of those studies used mirrors during the investigative process.<\/p>\n
The glass-like surface of the water in the photos below is nothing if it isn’t a mirror. <\/i><\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/coyote-1762-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"coyote-1762-ron-dudley\\"")
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Six years ago this month along the causeway to Antelope Island I watched as this coyote walked out to the end of a rocky spit extending into the Great Salt Lake. When “he” reached the end of the spit and looked down into the glass-smooth water it became immediately obvious that he was transfixed by his own reflection. He kept staring almost straight down into the water. This was not a flash in the pan moment. I took many photos of him as he seemed to be studying himself in his reflection. I have no doubt that that’s exactly what he was doing.<\/p>\n
I remember wondering at the time what he might be thinking. Did he fully realize that he was looking at himself in the reflection?<\/p>\n
Of course this doesn’t prove that the coyote was self aware. It would take more sophisticated experimentation to prove such a thing. He could have been only curious about what he was seeing but I have to wonder – did he realize on a conscious level that he was seeing himself?<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/coyote-1776-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"coyote-1776-ron-dudley\\"")
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Eventually he looked up at me as he was beginning to turn around on the spit. I’m including this photo only because I enjoy his cross-legged pose.<\/p>\n
Humans have been fascinated by mirrors and our own reflection for millennia and who’s to say what animals might be thinking when they see theirs. And if they realize that they’re looking at themselves. Or not.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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And speaking of mirrors and reflections…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photo in public domain<\/em><\/p>\n This is Vel\u00e1zquez’s Rokeby Venus. In the painting we see the goddess Venus in a sensual pose, lying on a bed and looking into a mirror held by the Roman god of physical love, her son Cupid. There are several other famous paintings similar to this one with Cupid holding a mirror and Venus looking into it.<\/em><\/p>\n Do you see anything wrong here?<\/em><\/p>\n Think about it, with the mirror held at this angle Venus wouldn’t be able to see her own reflection but the painting strongly and deliberately implies that she is looking at herself. At this angle since we can see her she would be seeing the artist working on the painting, in this case the Spanish artist Vel\u00e1zquez. This “trick” has been used by artists often enough that it’s called the “Venus Effect”.<\/em><\/p>\n A bit of trivia for the day…<\/em><\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Late Addendum:<\/em><\/p>\n While I was out photographing birds this morning multiple requests for prints of the first photo above were made, both in comments and in emails. Readers know that for complicated reasons I’m generally reluctant to sell prints. But the demand for prints of this particular photo seems unusually high and they’re from loyal readers who I don’t like to disappoint so here’s some relevant information if you’re interested in a print.<\/em><\/p>\n The version posted above is cropped to a 5×7 aspect ratio. An 8×10 print is reasonably close to the same ratio and it would be easy to find a frame for that size. Purchase cost for an 8×10 print would be $60 including shipping and printing fees. Larger prints would be more.<\/em><\/p>\n If you’re interested in purchasing a print please contact me (soon) through the “Contact Me” link at the top of my blog and we’ll work out the details. Please, no requests from outside the USA – shipping and financial arrangements just become too complicated. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I love being a witness to moments like this in nature because they can strongly suggest conscious self-awareness in animals.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Vel\u00e1zquezs-Rokeby-Venus..jpg\")
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