Low Key Swan

[Steven Kersting]

When I saw the black swans I immediately thought that I wanted to do a Low-key image....The swans were not very cooperative. I had to use a higher angle to use the water as a cleaner BG. I probably should have hung out longer and tried for more angles/positions as the pose isn't ideal I think....

So, what do YOU think of this one?
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6615565685_f4d7250a99_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skersting/6615565685/)

D7000, 70-200 f/2.8 @ 130mm, f/8, 1/1000, and ISO too high @ 1100.

[denise ippolito]

Steven, Nice low key look. I like the pose and of course the subject! I might have given just a touch more room on the bottom and right if it were mine but that is just a matter of opinion. The feathers on the back look great. Nice sharp face and eye. Hey one of my favorite bird shots was ISO 3200.

[Steven Kersting]

Thanks!
Here's my "other version"...I'm not sure which I prefer but I keep going back to this one even though it is so much darker.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6615418549_54a66024cf_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/skersting/6615418549/)

[Christopher Miller]

Great idea, Steven, and it works very well for the subject. Comparing the two versions, I think I prefer the darker BG in the second one, but the swan looks too dark to me in that one. Maybe something in between would be best? I agree with Denise on more room to the right and bottom.

[Steven Kersting]

Thanks. I was thinking the brighter bird created too much contrast in a single color range... To me it looked a bit to much like it was "pasted in". But I like the image enough to keep tweaking it.