Silhouetted Scarecrow in Tea-Colored Water

Honeyed evening light washes over a wet rice paddy, turning the standing water into a dark, tea-colored mirror. A scarecrow stands in silhouette against the fading sky, its rough fabric and wooden frame defined only by the bright rim of light tracing its edges. Nearby, weathered orchard ladders lean against stacked wooden crates, their slats worn smooth by years of use. Fine particles of chaff and dust drift through the air, catching the last rays of the sun before nightfall. The wet season has left the ground saturated, and the reflection of the scarecrow ripples slightly in the shallow water. One grain of rice rests on the edge of a crate, glowing gold in the dimming light.