Swans for Valentine's day!

[John Robinson]

Thought this very apt for St Valentines day
Done from a hide set up for Grebes. These two went through the whole display and mating sequence. Just a fluke they were side on to the camera. ! White blurred seagull taken out of back.

Nikon D200
Sigma 50-500mm
640 ISO
2000 sec @f10
Contrast and EV down 1 in camera. 70% of full frame.
Did think about a tight vertical head crop for impact WDYT ? Also maybe very tiny ccw rotate ?
Cheers
John R

[Satish Ranadive]

Gorgeous image of gorgeous pair of Swans to celebrate Valentines Day's feelings.
Just love it,John.
Happy Valentine Day !!

Regards,
Satish.

[David Salem]

Great pose for the occasion!! Well done

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Maybe an unlikely chance occurrence John, but you were spot on with timing. Beautiful image. I prefer this crop and agree with tiny ccw rotation.


Geoffrey

[Iain Barker]

Lovely moment captured here John.
Nice detail in the whites. I agree that it needs very slight CCW rotation.

TFS
Iain

[John Rowell]

Great symmetry in the pose, makes for a beauty of a composition. Exposure is well done and detail very nice. The water drops from their beaks is a great plus. I'm with you on the rotation.

[gail bisson]

You nailed this one with perfect timing John.
Agree it needs a bit of CCW rotation.
Excellent PP work re: cloning out the gull.Freat DOF for both birds.
Super nice that you got a catchlight in both eyes as well.
Perfect for Happy Valentine's Day card,
Gail

[John Robinson]

thanks All
My wifes card this morning will be the 53 rd I have given her !!
Somebody likes me !!!!!
All the best
JohnR

[Jonathan Ashton]

Nice on John I like the composition as is, I agree a tad CCW rotation. A minor criticism - maybe try to lift the blacks on the cob's head a little bit.

[John Robinson]

Repost with adjustments
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
John

[Jonathan Ashton]

Rotation better ......but blacks still a little dense?? This will depend upon the way you see the image on your monitor so you may disagree with my observation.

[John Robinson]

yes John
Can't do much about it really. Exposing for the whites was my main aim with the black areas being so small. They are pretty black anyway .
Cheers
John