58 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Several years ago, I was at the Palo Alto Baylands hoping to encounter some interesting birds or other wildlife to photograph. As I approached the Lucy Evans Nature Center, there was clearly an event going on, so I walked over to check it out. My eyes fixated on an enormous bald eagle. This was my first encounter with Sequoia, an animal ambassador from the Palo Alto Zoo. The closer I got, the more entranced I became. I {due west} had seen and photographed bald eagles before, but never at such close range where the elegant details of its individual feathers and piercing gold eyes become apparent. During the session, I was struck not only by Sequoia’s sheer beauty, but also by her impressive armamentarium of talons and beak. Additionally, I noticed her acute awareness of what was going on around her—particularly the presence of other raptors—even at great distances. Sequoia’s volunteer handler, John Flynn, welcomed my photography and answered all my questions. He patiently explained what safety distances were required and how Sequoia was to be approached. Later that evening, I attended an event at the Foster Gallery. A tall man with a distinguished beard came up to me and said that we had met earlier that day. At first, I was a bit confused until he jogged my memory. It turns out I was so mesmerized by Sequoia that I had not taken sufficient notice of John. John graciously offered to host my photography students for a close-up encounter with Sequoia. Since that time, he has met with many of my “Photographing NATURE AMBASSADOR sequoia the eagle words & photography by ROBERT DAVID SIEGEL From the time we are young, we encounter bald eagles frequently—on money, on symbols, on TV. After all, they are the “national bird.” But most people don’t have the opportunity to encounter them in the wild or closeup. When we do, the result is often surprising, making us rethink our conceptions of these majestic creatures.
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