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Have you ever felt like you are being watched? The frog at Little Pond. color poster canvas print metal print hudson valley photography
Have you ever felt like you are being watched? The frog at Little Pond. color poster canvas print metal print hudson valley photography
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Did you ever get the feeling like you were being watched?
My name is Alec Halstead, and my life has been a balancing act between light and shadow, a journey captured through the lens of my camera. As a 23-year military veteran, I’ve stood in places where beauty felt like a forgotten concept, surrounded by the brutality of conflict and despair. Photography became my refuge, my way of proving that even in the darkest corners, there is light to be found. Over the years, I’ve shared these glimpses of hope in galleries and through prints, each one a small testament to resilience—a donation here, a nod to veterans there. But one photograph, taken years ago, haunts me to this day.
It was at Little Pond, a quiet haven in the Catskills. Back then, the campground still exuded serenity, a waterfront escape that soothed the soul. A buddy and I had decided to camp there, escaping the grind for a weekend of fishing and peace. Early one morning, coffee steaming in hand, we wandered down to the shore, rods in tow. The water was mirror-still, the kind of calm that makes you feel like you’ve slipped into another world.
But then it crept in—that feeling, primal and cold, like invisible fingers brushing the back of your neck. I glanced at my friend. “You feel that?” I asked.
He nodded, his face pale. “Yeah... like we’re being watched.”
We scanned the shoreline, our eyes darting to the treeline and the still water. Nothing. Not a single sound. Not even the wind dared to disturb the silence. The sensation didn’t fade; it only grew heavier, oppressive. I couldn’t shake it, so I began moving down the shore, pushing aside reeds and brush, my breath shallow.
And then I saw it.
A frog. Not ten feet away, perched mostly in the water perfectly still. It wasn’t the kind of frog you’d overlook. Its eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that felt unnatural, almost intelligent. It didn’t blink, didn’t flinch, just stared.
I called my buddy over, told him to grab my camera. The frog didn’t move. It watched us, unyielding, as if daring me to press the shutter. The moment my finger clicked the button, the oppressive feeling lifted, though not entirely. Something lingered, an aftertaste of unease. We returned to fishing, but I kept glancing back, half expecting it to still be there. By lunch, it was gone.
When I got home and developed the photo, I felt a strange mix of relief and dread. It was a beautiful shot, the frog framed perfectly, its gaze almost penetrating the paper. A friend of mine who adores frogs begged for a copy, and it’s hung on her office wall ever since. But every time I see that image, I feel a whisper of that morning.
I can’t shake the thought—that frog wasn’t just watching us. It was waiting. For what, I’ll never know. But I haven’t been back to Little Pond since.
Production and Shipping Time:
Glossy Photo Paper: 5 days for printing, 5 days for shipping.
Ready-to-Hang Canvas: 5 days for printing, 5 days for shipping.
SHIPPING DETAILS
There are 5 ways to print these images.
1) Premium Glossy Photo Paper are high quality, professional paper-prints.
Sharp, Vivid and rich Color sets this apart from a casual photo print.
You'll feel like you're there.
Premium Glossy Photo Paper will last a long time.
This option is available in 8x10 inches, 11x14 inches or 16x20 inches.
They are designed to be placed in a glass frame, which can be purchased separately (starting at a few dollars at your local Target or online).
2) Ready to Hang Canvas are ready to hang right out of the box with zero assembly required. Ultimate convenience.
Gorgeous finished look. It comes out of the shipping box finished and ready to hang with a simple nail in the wall.
Canvas Prints are a well-known, high-end way of displaying photographs.
1.5 inch thick wooden stretcher-bars that give it shape, in the same way an oil painting is traditionally assembled. There are no staples or ugly lines visible on the sides (very important).
Estimated delivery time for printing, assembling, packing and shipping is around 10 days.
3) Ready to Hang Canvas (split into 3 panels)
This is for larger pieces, and the photograph is split into 3 even panels, 3 separate canvas panels which put together make a single large image.
This gives a modern look, and allows spectacularly large sizes on your wall!
4) Aluminum Metal Prints
Create elegant wall decor that shines with high-end, exclusive and unique aluminum metal prints.
Create a polished addition to any home or office. 3/64" thick aluminum panel. Features a glossy coating and rounded edges.
UV resistant ink prevents fading. All metal sizes are ready to hang on your wall, right out of the box.
5) Acrylic Prints
Create eye-catching home decor with modern acrylic prints. Light refracts through the museum-quality acrylic bringing vibrancy and depth to your photos. The .22" thick clear acrylic produces superb image quality from edge to edge and absolutely stunning, brilliant color!
UV resistant ink prevents fading. All metal sizes are ready to hang on your wall, right out of the box
Mar 15-24
Mar 1
Mar 3-10
Mar 15-24
Cost to ship
Free
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