The Three Tenors -

[Randy Stout]

These three trumpeter swans were imaged at the local bird sanctuary on Sunday. I watched them work their way across the lake towards me, and got lucky to have them essentially in the same plane and with their mouths open at the same time!

D700 600mm f/4 f/7.1 1/800s ISO 800 Gitzo/Wimberley

Post: Selective sharpening, small crop up from bottom, clean up clump of lily pads in background

I thought about the crop because of the week reflections, but liked the balance it provided, so left in. I could see a pano version, but then you have to decide where on the necks to cut, and have a white line leaving the frame!

Advice and comments always appreciated.

Makes me smile.

Cheers

Randy

[arash_hazeghi]

Excellent! love the fully synchronized swans all with a good HA too!

[dankearl]

About perfect Randy, looks almost photoshopped.
Nice colors, amazing how much the pose and open beaks are about the same.

[Grace Scalzo]

Love it, Randy. A fun image to view.

[Melissa Groo]

What synchrony indeed. Nice capture, Randy! Excellent job on the whites too.

[Robert Holguin]

Wonderful image. Love the colors, great poses, and timing.
Well done.

[Shreeni Rao]

Excellent excellent Randy. Almost like a painting !

[Dan Behm]

Randy,
How beautiful is this, You could not have posed them any better, great vision in getting them all in the frame, the separation and head angle each is giving you is ideal, as is the water color... I could see a pano with this as well and perhaps cropping midpoint of the neck and applying a blur at the neck area to blend into the body would work, But I love it as is.

I am looking forward to heading up there myself in coming weeks Once some more of the migrants put down, How are things looking as of rite now?

Dan

[Josh Clark]

Great synch action on this one Randy. Even managed identical head angles and open bills as well which makes it all the more special. Great job exposing the whites.

[Craig Brelsford]

I appreciate the unusual moment you recorded in the field, your decision to crop the way you cropped, and your explanation above. I see no leaks in this ship.

[Ofer Levy]

I like this a lot! Getting the tree in the same plan, sharp with their mouth open - very impressive!! Would crop a bit off the bottom - right above the small disconnected part of the reflection on the right.

[Raymond Lee]

Great capture Randy! The whites are nice and detailed! I love how you manage to get them all with open beaks. The head angles are fantastic and well synchronized.

[Ken Watkins]

Randy,

Truly marvelous synchronicity, very special indeed. :cheers::cheers::cheers:

[Stu Bowie]

Randy, Symmetry at its best. Not only did you get them in the same plane, but great HA's and open beaks too. I do like the BG colours, and your low angle of capture works well. An opportunity well used. :w3

[Gary Esman]

Very nice Randy, not very often this happens!

Gary.

[Marina Scarr]

Love this, Randy. I would try the crop suggested by Ofer and compare the two.

[Roger Williams]

Very well done, Randy. Great symmetry of action and pose with rich background colors and perfectly exposed whites.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and ideas. I appreciate them! :bg3:

I will try some other cropping options.

Cheers

Randy

[denise ippolito]

Randy, I love everything about this one. Great capture! The water and background are gorgeous.:S3: