Swimming Hole

Gallery: AvianPosted January 24, 2012723 views6 comments

This is a small area of the marsh at Huntley Meadows park in Virginia this past weekend. Quite a few ducks and geese (Canada, and mallards mostly... but a couple of Hooded Mergansers too, but not in this shot) had congregated in some open water here and moved in and out. I was pretty close to, giving a neat feel to it I think.

Overall, I can't really say why I like this... but I really do. Maybe because I was there...

I did clone out a goose to get better separation for the one standing in front like it's about to jump in. And no, I'm not sure I'm OK with that.

Thanks for looking!

Olympus E-520
Zuiko 12-60 @ 45mm
ISO 100
f/6.3
1/30 s
Handheld
PS CS4 for B&W conversion, raw conversion, web prep, goose cloning

Comments

6 comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on January 24, 2012 at 7:54 AM

David, this really appeals to me too. It's a refreshing change in a lot of ways from most of what we see here in avian. It's very rare to see a black-and-white here, and we never get this much DOF or habitat, which all adds up to create a lot of visual interest. I find the setting really interesting, and I like how all the geese seem to be quite intent on doing their own thing--it feels very peaceful. the only thing that I wish is that we were getting a little more interaction from the three geese closest to the camera than just the one head turn.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 24, 2012 at 8:23 AM

I love this for all the reasons Brian stated. It looks like a little paradise. Thank you very much for sharing this. I could look at it for a long, long time.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 24, 2012 at 5:33 PM

I like the B and W treatment David. The huge DOF gives this a great feel. Love all the geese doing different things. Gives a neat "busy" feel to the image. Well seen and captured.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on January 24, 2012 at 11:32 PM

I like this too. It feels like a little Canada Goose village. Nicely composed and I enjoy it in black and white.

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on January 25, 2012 at 11:05 AM

What a cool scene David... I think your b&w treatment works well here.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on January 25, 2012 at 8:12 PM

Given the subjects and the season I think B&W works very well here. As others have said we don't see this much DOF on this forum often and I find it refreshing. Birds will be birds and you've got a basketfull of subjects to be responsible for here but I do wish that the goose on the right weren't cut off and the foreground bird in the right were sharp. An interesting (and peaceful) image for me.

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