Swans • Pre-Nuptial Splendour!

[Kodiak Qc]

•
… in their brand new and fresh plumage.

1

2

3

4

5

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[Jannyfox]

I'm loving the pose in the last one. It would have been even better (for me) if you'd got the full reflection as well, but I just have a bit of a thing about bird reflections.......... The others don't work as well because of the shadow over the head, however I do like the detail you've captured in the wing feathers in the first two shots.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

The others don't work as well because of the shadow over the head, however I do like the detail you've captured in the wing feathers in the first two shots.

Thanks Jan.
I understand you but it is the same light source
that produced the details AND the shadows!

 

[Phil-D]

You've captured some good poses here Daniel I know you've held the whites but they do look a tad dark and too blue

I've done a quick edit on this one, lifted the exposure 1/2 stop, lifted the shadows and got rid of most of the chromatic aberration on the wing edge/tips, looks better on my monitor

 

[gremlin16]

Magnificent, nicely taken @Kodiak Qc (nice edit too @Phil-D )

 

[Kodiak Qc]

they do look a tad dark and too blue

•

I understand your point Phil but, had the light been such
as you suggest, I would not have been inspired to captu-
re it. Your rendition, thought very acceptable, does not re-
flect the weather conditions of the moment.

The sky over head was heavy with incoming dark clouds
and the Sun was just sneaking under that heavy cover. It
was quite theatrical and the threat of the heavy rain we
have now was very real then.

The light in your edit "feels" bright like a mid-day Sun at a
45° inclination…??? These pictures were taken after 16:00
h and, in winter, that implies some warmer tones on the whi-
te birds and low water surface reflectance because of the
cloud cover.

Thanks for the comment and your edit, nevertheless,
both very appreciated!

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Magnificent, nicely taken

Thanks for that!

My prime motivation was to capture the feathers
transparency in the low harsh light —which seems
to have worked rather well in the first take.

 

[PaulButler]

Great set Daniel, last one is a cracker.

 

[gremlin16]

The water droplets in #2 and the way the feathers are all out of sync make this one my favourite.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

last one is a cracker

Thanks Paul.

This one belongs to this set I took yesterday but
I have others (in that direction) taken at other times
where the light serves the purpose better!

 

[Kodiak Qc]

The water droplets in #2 and the way the feathers are all out of sync make this one my favourite.

Yes, quite spectacular…
and such symmetry is an eye catcher!

 

[mufftrix]

I'm loving the pose in the last one. It would have been even better (for me) if you'd got the full reflection as well, but I just have a bit of a thing about bird reflections.......... The others don't work as well because of the shadow over the head, however I do like the detail you've captured in the wing feathers in the first two shots.

I am afraid I am in agreement with Jan and even before I saw comment was thinking the same?

Really like the last one though and it a shame that the others in the set that the head is in shadow, as although you captured the detail it just where you really need the light most

 

[Kodiak Qc]

Really like the last one though and it a shame that the others in the set that the head is in shadow, as although you captured the detail it just where you really need the light most

When it comes to directing a set, I'm usually
kind of good at it… but I experience great diffi-
culties being obeyed by wildlife!

 

[mufftrix]

When it comes to directing a set, I'm usually
kind of good at it… but I experience great diffi-
culties being obeyed by wildlife!

Well the answer there is that you have to wait till you get the shot you want?

If you are happy with the results that is all that matters, but I think the shots would have been so much better with the head which after all is usually the critical part to be not in shadow?

If however you was after showing the feather detail mission accomplished, but as a overall shot for me the last one is the one that works best

 

[Kodiak Qc]

wait till you get the shot you want?

If you do with bottles and such, I give you right…
but with wildlife, I have learned to shoot first.