Swan Lake

[Hui Song]

There are 36 swans in Pomton lake. Most time, I go there to practice shooting landscape. Two month ago, I did spend two day shooting pictures of swan. I am not so confident how to edit these picture. That is why it take me so long to get some pictures ready for posting. It seams I more likely look them as landscape in stead of wild life picture. I really want to know how am I doing. C&C welcomed.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


#7


#8 Go Away, Ducks!


#9 Fishing with swan


#10

[AB26]

Beautiful shots Hui.
I love the mood in #4. Great shot
No 5 is a high key shot and it suits the image very well. What I like about this one is the reflection in the water forming a heart shape.

Well done.

[Hui Song]

Beautiful shots Hui.
I love the mood in #4. Great shot
No 5 is a high key shot and it suits the image very well. What I like about this one is the reflection in the water forming a heart shape.

Well done.

I followed a thread "A Couple of Love Birds" from Christina S and then practice on the High Key version editing. It is a extreme editing. Are most high key images made from camera or made from PP?
Here is the original out of the camera:

[chauncey]

Hui Song, I am glad to see another wrestling with those majestic white creatures. Getting proper exposure while maintaining detail in the feathers is a daunting task, necessitating repair in PP but, I think you know that already.
You do have an advantage of a sheltered lake, which lessens the waves and gives superior reflection capabilities.

Are most high key images made from camera or made from PP?

Both...exposing to the right in camera is critical as it lessens the added noise resulting from boosting in PP but, avoiding blowing out some highlights against a reflective background like water is often a neat trick.
My advantage is that my Canon camera allows me to watch a Live View Histogram when inputting settings.

[Hui Song]

Chauncey, thanks for your advise. I always admire the sharp focus and amazing details in your birds pictures. I am just into photography and don't do birds a lot. Right now, it is too hard for me to freeze their action well. I did tried to get some of their taking out, landing and flying action. But none of them come out with good enough sharpness and focus. It seams need a lot of practice, but I am willing to try. If I want to put more effort in shooting birds, I also need check if me equipment to good for that. Right now, buy extra lenses etc is not a option for me. I need focus on the exposure setting and shooting practice.

Here is a swan flying picture which I was not willing to post initially.

[Brownbear]

Hi Hui,

I like 4 and 9 as you've captured the beautiful scenery and the beauty of the swan in a nice composition. I also like #10 (beautiful detail in the neck).

Swans are challenging to photograph, keep at it.



My swans never seem to fly... I hang around for 2-3 hours and still floating lazily about...

[chauncey]

My swans never seem to fly

Ahh but they do show some tender family relationships.

[Brownbear]

Yes, but I really want to capture one in flight... Thank you.

Hui, I forgot to say that I like your high key version, too. Much better than I managed... Check out Donald's high key swan featured in the monthly winners, it's to die for....

Ahh but they do show some tender family relationships.

[Hui Song]

My swans never seem to fly... I hang around for 2-3 hours and still floating lazily about...

It is also very hard for me to get the flying swan picture. In order to not wast time on waiting them take off, I just shoot the landscape picture. When I see / heard some of them take out,I have to quickly switch the camera. Maybe that is why I have not caught any good one. I should focus either on swan or on landscape.

[Brownbear]

Thank you for sharing... My swans simply don't seem to fly but surely they do, once in a while. Best of luck to both of us.

It is also very hard for me to get the flying swan picture. In order to not wast time on waiting them take off, I just shoot the landscape picture. When I see / heard some of them take out,I have to quickly switch the camera. Maybe that is why I have not caught any good one. I should focus either on swan or on landscape.

[Downrigger]

These are beautiful. Your interesting question (are they landscapes or wildlife photos) seems answered "some of both" in your very successful #s 1 and 4.

[Hui Song]

These are beautiful. Your interesting question (are they landscapes or wildlife photos) seems answered "some of both" in your very successful #s 1 and 4.

I do like the "some of both" approach. Put the swan in the middle ground and shoot them as main subject with their surrounding. But when I shoot the pure landscape, I try avoid them in the frame. The moving swan will create problem if you use small aperture and slow speed to get the DoF.
BTW, comparing with other fast moving birds, the floating swan with slow and elegant movement is easier to shoot for beginner like me.

[chauncey]

I'm aghast at admitting this but...a fair number of my images involve "cheating".
I am not a believer in "straight out of the camera" images. Most of my "white bird" images are the result of two exposures, one using a virgin, properly exposed background and the other with a properly exposed white bird. It's then a simple matter to insert that bird into that virgin background via Photoshop.

[Hui Song]

I'm aghast at admitting this but...a fair number of my images involve "cheating".
I am not a believer in "straight out of the camera" images. Most of my "white bird" images are the result of two exposures, one using a virgin, properly exposed background and the other with a properly exposed white bird. It's then a simple matter to insert that bird into that virgin background via Photoshop.

Thanks for sharing your "cheating" trick! So far, I only have done some "minus" my image in PP, which is removing unwanted small objects. It's time to practice "plus" now.