One of the many herons that feed on the fish in the canals and rivers of Amsterdam awaits a free meal, courtesy of a fisherman on the Amstel River. The fisherman incongruously appears to be conversing with the bird, perhaps even gesturing to it. Actually, he is just reaching for his fishing line. This image is a study in a spatial relationship – the water in the foreground and background isolate the narrow pier, and put bird and man on the same plane – quite alone with each other. The bird keeps its distance – it extends its beak toward the man just as the man extends his arm towards the bird, but will come no closer. The man appears to be talking to it, but I doubt if the bird is listening. All it wants is a free breakfast, which it never got. The man did not catch any fish while I was watching this little encounter, and the bird flew off in a huff. Yet they did offer us what appears to be an incongruous conversation. For a few moments, I even thought they were old friends.