Mute swan

[Bobo Madar]

Hello everyone.

I am new here. The quality of the shots here is amazing but intimidating at the same time.

After posting some macro/close up shots in the other forum and getting really great input, maybe my hesitation is just newbie nerves.

Anyway posting one of my recent shots to see what you think.

I was fortunate the other day to be able to track a group of 4 mute swans in the hope of a pair teaming up for that classic heart shape. After almost 2 hours of observation and the sun going down fast, a pair finally took pity on me and joined up.



5D3, f5.6, 1/1000, 300mm, ISO10000, hand-held.

Minimal pp just the basics.

Thanks for any comments/critique. I am a good learner. :)

[Faraaz Abdool]

Beautiful moment captured here, Bobo! There are some areas in the image that look a bit noisy, I guess that's due to the high ISO (1000, right?). Getting lower would've also helped to blur the background water. Nice touch with the golden light on the water though. Looking forward to seeing more from you!

[Bobo Madar]

Thanks Faraz.

ISO was 10,000. It was getting quite dim and I was about to leave.

Getting lower? I wish. The whole sequence lasted just seconds. I saw the backside of the one on the left swimming out, then it suddenly turned to the right and I pointed the camera at it and and not really expecting much. Just as he was in the viewfinder the other swan came in from the right.

[John Chardine]

Pretty amazing considering the ISO. You captured a great moment. I think the image would be better balanced with less space at the bottom. Not sure where you had the focus point but if in middle then it probably caught the left wing of the righthand bird. In this case it looks like the depth of field was not adequate to get the necks and heads in sharp focus. Some selective deblurring with Topaz Infocus or just some sharpening there may help.

[Bobo Madar]

Thanks John for the tips. I will give them a try.

You are right, focus point hit just behind the left head on the wing.

I have been playing with back-button focus for a while and find this sort of thing happens all the time even though I am pretty sure visually that the focus is on the head/eye. Other times it is spot on so more likely holding or firing technique is faulty.

[Arthur Morris]

Nicely done. EXP and SH look good. My only wish would be that both birds were parallel to the imaging sensor.

[Bobo Madar]

Hi Boss, thanks for the kind remarks.

Parallel? LOL. That is certainly on my wish list but when is the question. These are not captives or confined to an area so one can observe and respond. Since that shot, they have not been seen at the original place and only seen as singles. Quite a few trumpeter swans though but they do not bend like the mutes.

[Bobo Madar]

Hi Boss, thanks for the kind remarks. I am honoured that a photographer of your stature would comment on a humble newbie's post. Thanks.

Parallel? LOL. That is certainly on my wish list but when is the question. These are not captives or confined to an area so one can observe and respond. Since that shot, they have not been seen at the original place and only seen as singles. Quite a few trumpeter swans though but they do not bend like the mutes.

For me there are 2 ultimate shots to hope for - parallel, both fluffed up almost identically, at their level. One with them looking at each other with the knobby thing in perfect up/down alignment. The 2nd with both looking towards the photographer in a sort of wedding portrait pose. :)

[Arthur Morris]

Bobo, YAW. I do understand that bird photography is difficult and that we cannot always get the birds to do what we want....

[Bobo Madar]

Wish it was'nt but that is their way. :)

But on the positive side - there is a lot of learning here on this site and that is a good place to get into it deeper.