Sorting Feathers

[David Cowling]

A Mute Swan preening on a sunny winters morning. C&C very welcome.

Canon 7D. 100-400 L. 1/1600 @ f 6.3. ISO 200.

[Randy Stout]

David:

I like the overall shapes, the depth in the central area, the vibrant orange bill, overall exposure control.

The White balance is always an interesting challenge in this type of shot. The image is quite cool temp wise, and perhaps this was your intention to strengthen the sense of cold, winter. I will often leave my winter images on the cool side for that very reason.

If you have more room on the right, I could see a bit more room there if the other shapes and lines work with what you have.

Cheers

Randy

[Phill Luckhurst]

Lovely composition. It is so nice to see something different.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Very artistic composition, I'm really digging it. Quite intimate. I do wish the shadow on the face and bill was not there though, tough lighting for that type of image. I still like it a lot, well seen....

[Diane Miller]

Nicely seen and captured! Would be interesting to compare with a little more on the right, if you have it.

[keith mitchell]

David looks like you gave yourself a hard task, what you have done with it certainly works very well,truely artistic composition

[Jonathan Ashton]

An unusual image and it gives the viewer something to consider so well done. You obviously chose the format for good reason, I am a little puzzled why not landscape. ( I am not very imaginative so don't take offence!)
I appreciate the head and neck/immediate feathers are of primary interest but would suggest some of the highlights slightly wider afield are blown.

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Looks like you were at the right place at the right time with just some not ideal light. The shadow on the bill is a minus, but not an image killer. Lovely pose and great colors on that beak.