Trumpeter Swans

Gallery: AvianPosted November 23, 201520,319 views11 comments

This photo was made along the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley during the 2 day snow coach excursion of our photo tour last winter. We came upon a large group of these photogenic swans foraging and resting along the river. After a while a few of the swans decided to take off to spend some time furthur down river, giving us some nice opportunities to capture them in flight.

All your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated.

Canon MKIV; 600mm; ISO 400; f10; !/2500; Gitzo Tripod with RSS BH-55 ballhead; Spot meter manual exposure

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Steve Thompson on November 23, 2015 at 7:40 PM

Very cool Ken! I love how they are completely in sync wth each other, wings, feet & heads. Both birds look sharp with good detail in the whites. Makes a real sweet high-key action image. devil

Registered on August 7, 2014, 125 Posts, 2319 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on November 23, 2015 at 8:40 PM

Wow, just beautiful with the black beaks and legs on the white snow. You managed to get a lot of detail in the wings and feathers, even though the light looks a little harsh. Tack sharp, though, and really a nice close up of these gorgeous birds.

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on November 23, 2015 at 8:47 PM

A fine job on the exposure of this, Ken, and very nice composition and action. The matching poses are really cool as are the shadows. For an art print, I'd be tempted to add a touch of canvas on the left and fill in the end of the shadow that got cut off.

Sweet image.

devil

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

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 24, 2015 at 2:52 AM

Really impressive, Ken. Not only the staggered, mirrored formation and poses, but the clean background as well. Great job.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 24, 2015 at 5:46 AM

Sublime synchrinocity devil

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on November 24, 2015 at 7:14 AM

Wonderful capture. When I was in Yellowstone in September, I photographed two swans, also on the Yellowstone River in the Hayden Valley. Wonder if it is the same two.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on November 24, 2015 at 8:08 AM

This is great. The textured shadow edges contrast nicely with the sharply-focussed swans.

Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 24, 2015 at 2:31 PM

Amazing double take-off Ken. There is a sense of urgency in this photo.
Well done.
May

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

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on November 24, 2015 at 4:46 PM

Very nice image, Ken.
Very interesting how much in sync the birds are.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on November 26, 2015 at 10:05 AM

Really nice pair you captured here. The white on white works really well here ! Congrats, hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 27, 2015 at 2:00 PM

Love the running side by side poses and the winter scene, great job stopping down to get them both in focus, a beauty Ken! devil

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments