Trumpeter Swan

[Mike Lentz]

So it was a balmy -16 this weekend when the photography began and it warmed up to about -2 when I left.
I have an area that has some open water and when the temps get extreme it creates alot of steam. Steam and Swans = photo ops. In the end only the toes got chilly and I came away with a few keepers.

http://www.pbase.com/image/108522997.jpg

Nikon D300 ~ Nikkor 300mm F/2.8 with 1.4x Nikon TC attached
ISO 200 ~ F/4 ~ 1/2500 sec ~ +2/3 EV

[Rene Quenneville]

Wow, this is quite a picture. The overall mood is dreamy. Composition and bird position is very good. If it is at all possible, I would rather have more room at the top and a little less of the water. Super Picture.

[Meint Sijp]

wow. Like this picture a lot. As Rene said dreamy :)
Like the position of the swan and the wings. Cool pic.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Wonderfull, light, pose, detail, sharpness, exposure, ambient, mood, all is simply beautifull! Stunnig shot! Congratulaitons!

[Steve Maxson]

Very nice light and a great pose, Mike. The steam really adds to the mood. I also like the low shooting angle (i.e., not from the top of a high river bank as at Monticello). Well done.

[Arthur Morris]

Exquisitely lovely. Wonderful mood, EXP, and flapping wing position. It would be easy to add some canvas to the top.

Is this at the feeding lady's house?

[Doug Brown]

Kind of reminds me of an angel in the clouds. I'd like a little more room up top, but it's a really nice image.

[Mike Lentz]

Is this at the feeding lady's house? <!-- / message --> No sir. ;)
Thanks for the feedback so far guys! :)

[Stephen Stephen]

Mike I really wish that this was my image. Beautifully captured. I support the canvas addition.

[Dave Phillips]

"Wonderful, light, pose, detail, sharpness, exposure, ambient, mood, all is simply beautifull! Stunnig shot! Congratulatons!".....ditto Ramon

sweet image Mike

[Krijn Trimbos]

Gorgeous Mike for all the reasons already mentioned. Love the wingflap and of course the overal mood! I agree with the canvas on top and would maybe also add some to the right. Apart from that very well done!

[Daniel Cadieux]

It's all been said. Congrats on such a fine image! P.S. I also agree for more room above.

[Mike Tracy]

One of my favorite images I have seen since I have been on this forum. Everything has been covered by the others so at the risk of getting in trouble I will simply say "great shot".

[John Ippolito]

Absolutely stunning Mike! The vapor, pose and detail make for a wonderful mood. Excellent work!

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hi Mike!
Ditto all comments above. This is great work!
I add some canvas on top, couldn't wait until your own repost.:)

[susanschermer]

Kudos to all of you who spotted the need for top added canvas. It's amazing what a difference Carlos' repost made to an already over-the-top photo. It almost makes me jealous of the -2. Great work, Mike.

[Mike Lentz]

Great repost and thanks for adding the canvas Juan! That easy fix will be incorporated to the final copy.
Susan, you could always visit Minnesota in the summertime... but then we have Mosquito's that drain us quickly! :eek:

[Arthur Morris]

Good job with the repost JC. Now I would go for a crop from the bottom.

[Alexander Koenders]

Just stunning. Wonderfulle and nearly perfect.

[adrian dancy]

I wished I took this shot.

[Raymond Barlow]

congrats Mike, sweet shot!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Very cool, I like the mood, light and pose and great advice above. Does it need a tad CW rotation?

[Kris Mortensen]

Beautiful image! Love it.

[Jon Thornton]

The glowing steam makes this a very atmospheric shot. Well done.