Well, since Danny Brown has been posting so many nice trumpeter images, thought I would add one. Taken about 3 weeks ago at our local bird sanctuary. I like the close formation flying, golden fall tones.
I too like this image for the same reasons you mention. The swans are quite sharp and pop niclely from the BG. On my monitor some of the brightest whites are pushing hot and could use some toning down, I also think that in this case the reflection doesn't add much and for this reason I think an even more pano crop, with the bottom reflection cropped off, may provide a strong alternative comp-wise.
Hi Randy, agree with you and Daniel on this image. I like the wing positions in both birds. I think if it were mine I would quick mask out the reflections of the birds - my eyes keep going to the reflection.
Looks like you caught some beautiful light that morning and caught a nice take-off roll. The light really shows the details in the face and beak that get lost so easily on these birds. The location where you took the photo has almost the same background as my location......very cool. Regarding the reflection, I often find them aggravating in my images but I like this one as it makes a nice illumination on the water but doesn't look like a partial bird. Take care.
Randy, just love the light and colours, and I like the flying postures of the two swans. Cropping away from the bottom as Dan mentioned will also get the swans into a ROT's. Well captured.
Randy love the colors and reflection in the water. Agree with prior comments on removing the white reflection of the swans on the water. Whites are fine on my monitor.