Rice Paddy Scarecrow Reflected in Golden Water

Warm golden light spills across a wet rice paddy beside a tractor track of dark, churned soil near Gloria, Rio de Janeiro. A rough burlap scarecrow stands upright in the shallow water, its weathered form mirrored in the tea-colored surface below. Fine chaff and dust drift through the air, catching the low sun and creating a hazy, textured veil over the scene. The wet season leaves the ground saturated, reflecting the orange sky in rippling pools. Along the edge of the track, the soil is clumped and heavy with moisture. The scarecrow's straw hat casts a long, dark shadow that stretches across the water, ending abruptly where the reflection breaks against a small clod of earth.