Mute Swan

Gallery: AvianPosted October 10, 2011110 views6 comments

Taken with Canon 7D,using 100-400 IS lens, ISO 400, 1/460, F8, handheld. This was taken the past spring so the advice given regarding shutter speed, etc. has not been implemented.

For me swans are one of the most graceful and beautiful large birds in the rivers and lakes in my area. I know they are thought of as pests by many, but I am very pleased to see them every time. For us geese are the pests and all you need is one swan to make them move on.

Comments are always appreciated.

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on October 10, 2011 at 7:56 PM

The raised wings and the light shining through them is nice but overall the image doesn't do much for me because of the bland lighting and head position. You may want to try and make this B&W which I think has a lot of potential.

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

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on October 10, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Hi Luke. Have many more with different head positions. Since you suggested a b&w version I'm attaching one. Don't feel it improves it much. If the lack of comments are any indication I have to assume the image doesn't have a mass appeal either in color or b&w. Still love swans and will keep photographing them,

Thanks for your honesty and suggestion. I appreciate both.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 10, 2011 at 11:18 PM

I think the black and white version improves this. The light appears much nicer now and there is a nice translucent feel the feathers. Nice work,

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on October 11, 2011 at 8:08 AM

I love the wings in the color version. The main thing here is that the bird is facing away and that you can't see the eye. As you keep photographing swans, which I love, too, you will hopefully get images where the swans are facing you rather than away from you but you'll still be able to get the beauty of the wings as you did here.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 11, 2011 at 10:55 PM

I LIKE the backlighting and the graceful position of the wings. A better head position, if you have others might be good. In post-processing try bringing up the whites-maybe even to a "high-key" like image.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Harris on October 13, 2011 at 5:49 PM

Patricia, Sorry I did not see your image sooner and I am glad I just did. I have am developing a liking of backlit images and I like this one. The light coming through the wings and the subtle detail in the shaded part of the wings makes this image. The darkness of the Swan against the lighter bg makes it stand out IMO. I do think taking a small amount off the right hand side to decenter the Swan would help.

I prefer the color version.

Skip

Registered on August 2, 2010, 169 Posts, 741 Comments