Cygnet

Gallery: AvianPosted November 1, 2009153 views13 comments

1D2n, 600mm f4 is, 1/1600s, f5, iso 200

Lack of daylight and no lack of work means few opportunities for photography. Luckily, my pond is only a 5 minute drive away, and it has been fascinating watching this swan family mature. They are flying now, as I discovered when the whole family landed 10 feet in front of me - it was like looking into the front door of a washing machine! No doubt they will be off to new pastures soon...

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on November 1, 2009 at 3:06 PM

This is wonderful. Perfect dof on nearly the whole bird, great angle and a nice oof background. The angle of light shows good detail in the plumage as well.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on November 1, 2009 at 3:54 PM

The hits just keep coming. . . The angle of the wing and the softness of the light on those feathers is what makes this photo special. The colors look like marshmallows roasted on a fire

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on November 1, 2009 at 4:53 PM

Absolutely awesome, Ian. Another of your great ultra-low angle images and the pose, detail and colors here are superb!

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 1, 2009 at 5:59 PM

Another amazing image. Love the detail in the feathers. Wonderful colors and perfect perspective. I was wondering if I could drop some morning to do some shooting. Oh, I forgot there is a big pond and a few thousand km between us. Too bad!!!

May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 1, 2009 at 7:25 PM

Excellent head turn for the angle of the bird with the raised wing Ian. Nice that you got the bill isolated from the body like you did. Another excellent, low angle image.

I'm curious about something. At these extremely low angles I sometimes notice what almost looks like a layer of fog just above the water surface. I generally like it's effect on the image, as I do here, but wonder what causes it. The only thing I can think of is that it's caused by the much higher humidity at the surface as the water evaporates. Do you know?

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on November 1, 2009 at 8:34 PM

Ian,

Another stunning low angle image from your spot on the pond. Wonderful techs, light and details as always.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on November 1, 2009 at 9:16 PM

Another gorgeous low angle shot. I love the eye contact and head turn. The nice soft light and the colors are absolutely wonderful. Well done.

Ron - Maybe the fog at the bottom is from the optics of the submarine Ian is photographing from.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Donato on November 1, 2009 at 9:39 PM

Another awesome image Ian.

Registered on January 27, 2009, 29 Posts, 247 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 1, 2009 at 10:05 PM

Another beauty, Ian. I like the wing detail.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 2, 2009 at 2:08 AM

Another beauty Ian - oh for apond where I could get down this low with an unobstructed view.

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on November 2, 2009 at 8:31 AM

Another beauty Ian, I never get tired of seeing your fantastic detailed low angle shots, seems to put the viewer right there (in the water!) Well done...

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Mason on November 2, 2009 at 6:59 PM

I'm curious about something. At these extremely low angles I sometimes notice what almost looks like a layer of fog just above the water surface. I generally like it's effect on the image, as I do here, but wonder what causes it. The only thing I can think of is that it's caused by the much higher humidity at the surface as the water evaporates. Do you know?

Ron

It's something I've pondered over too. The background is perhaps 100m away. Although the water is flat in the foreground, it is very possible that it is disturbed by local wind elsewhere. Presumably with such a long focal length causing compression, this would give the effect of soft "mist". I may be way off the mark, but it's my best guess!

Registered on December 14, 2005, 399 Posts, 2305 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on November 2, 2009 at 8:27 PM

Another beautiful low angle shot Ian. The background really compliments the browns in the Cygnet well.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments