Famous Dutch photographer Dick Van Duijn specializes in capturing moments in the animal kingdom, and his latest exhibition has drawn extensive attention with a new series of photographs. Van Duijn spent time in a park near Vienna to observe the behavior of local squirrels, and after two hours of patient observation and nearly 200 frames, he produced the image that sparked discussion in art and photography circles alike.
According to Van Duijn’s Instagram profile, the squirrel appeared to detect the scent of a yellow flower. His feed already features three near-finalized photos, attracting tens of thousands of likes and a wide array of comments. In the first image, the squirrel stands upright, its front paws resting on the flower petals. In the second, with eyes open, it appears to lean its nose toward the flower’s center to savor its fragrance. In the final frame, the creature grips the stem with one paw, shuts its eyes, leans its head onto the leaves, and seems to drift into a moment of calm contemplation.
At a quick glance, this series seems to capture a luminous summer mood and highlight the delicate balance of a small creature within its surroundings. Van Duijn noted that the trip to Austria was intended to photograph ground squirrels and described the experience as wonderfully rewarding.
Yet, not everything is as straightforward as it first appears. While many admired the image’s beauty, a response on a social platform drew attention to another interpretation. A user suggested that a closer look reveals the squirrel seemingly preparing to swallow a black worm hidden among the petals, later appearing to consume it. This claim added a layer of controversy to the conversation surrounding the work.
The remark ignited debate across social media. Some followers supported the theory, while others questioned the photographer’s approach and wondered if the image was being marketed at a premium price. One provocative post asked, Did the photo come at a high cost to capture a squirrel eating a worm?
As conversations continued, the central question persisted: is the scene about a squirrel savoring a fragrant flower, or is it about a predatory moment? What happened to the flower after the shot, and did the creature’s experience influence its next actions? If the animal survives the moment, what memories will linger about this controversy? These questions invite ongoing observation and future exploration by researchers and critics alike. The discussion is part of a larger dialogue about interpretation, intention, and the limits of photographic storytelling in the natural world.
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