In the midst of the Orlando tragedy a photographer has captured a touching scene from above, which is providing solace in a time that it’s so desperately needed.
The Orlando photographer, who has told CNN she wishes to remain anonymous, snapped a quick photo of some birds while attending a candlelight vigil at the Dr Phillips Performing Arts Centre.
She was there, like many others, to mourn the loss of a friend and as the names of the 49 victims were read out she noticed a flock of birds passing by overhead.
‘We had a moment of silence," in a post on her Facebook page.
"I'm sure everyone noticed the birds fluttering overhead - after all, they were everywhere. I certainly noticed the birds.
“I snapped a photo of the birds, thinking that there seemed to be an awful lot of them.”
It wasn’t until later, when she stopped to count the birds, that she realised there were 49 in her photo - one for each of the victims of the weekend’s massacre.
“I showed everyone around me and had them count,” she told CNN. “We were all stunned.”
Birds are often seen as symbols of peace, love and hope and the photographer told CNN that seeing the birds made her feel a sense of peace about the tragedy.
“There were 49 birds, my friends,” she posted. “The fallen were with us, tonight.”
A separate vigil in Lakeland, about 60 miles from the Dr Phillips vigil, released 49 doves at a ceremony but the birds in this picture appear to be black.
The photo has been shared thousands of times, with many people agreeing that the birds are a sign of those who lost their lives.
“Maybe, just maybe, our souls are eternal, miracles are real and signs are freely given,” one Facebook user commented.
"That is a beautiful photo and moment."
