Jeff Looking at Himself

I really enjoy this picture because it's a neat camera "trick," but I think there's something even more interesting about the caption. Not only is Jeff "looking at himself" in that he can see his own reflection, but this is also the only mural in the entire "Akeley Hall of African Mammals" whereby there's any hint of human existence [click photo to enlarge]. The rest of the murals and exhibits show specimens in their "natural state," if you can call it that, and so there are no humans. Animals are not scarred from having survived an attack by man, nor are there representations of trails or shelter created by man. Only in this mural do we see the distant presence of man; in the back, right hand corner of this photo, we see there's a fire. A placard explains this was an indigenous technique to ease hunting by removing plantlife that might allow shelter for game. Though indirectly intimated, it seems clear Akeley is suggesting the only impact man has on nature is a destructive one. Though I understand this might be a controversial opinion, consider the fact that he killed those animals in the hall. Were it not for his ability to destroy life, the exhibit would not be. Again, man's impact on nature is a destructive one.