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Male swan portrait.


Male swan portrait.
Photo Information
Copyright: howard shirley (gerbilratz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 364 W: 0 N: 996] (3162)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro, Cokin Circular Polarizer 58mm
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/320 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-19 9:36
Viewed: 449
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mute swan (Cygnus olor) An adult male (cob)

The Mute Swan is one of the heaviest flying birds, with males (cobs) average about 12 kg (27 lbs) and females (pens) more than 9 kg (20 lbs).

Its size, orange-reddish bill and white plumage make Mute swans unmistakable at close quarters. The most similar species is the Whooper Swan, but it has a yellow and black bill, lacks the curved "swan" neck, is longer and heavier, and lacks the characteristic projection above the bill.

Young birds,(cygnets) do not get full white plumage and the orange bill of mature adults, and their bill is black, not orange, for the first year. The colour of the down may range from pure white to grey to buff. All Mute Swans are white at maturity.

Adults range from 125 to 170 cm (49-67 in) long with a 200-240 cm (79-95 in) wingspan. They may stand over 1.2m (4 ft) tall on land. Males are larger than females and have a larger knob on their bill.

Mute Swans nest on large mounds built in shallow water in lakes and calm river edges. The birds are monogamous, pair for life and can return to the same nest site for years, rebuilding/repairing if needed.
Male and female swans share the care of the nest, and once the cygnets are fledged it is not uncommon to see whole families looking for food. They feed on submerged aquatic vegetation,as well as insects.

The Mute Swan not actually "mute" but is just less vocal than the noisy Whooper and Bewick's Swans. The most familiar sound associated with Mute Swan is the whooshing of the wings in flight. In reality, the Mute Swan is not completely silent, but has a kind of guttural warning call it will give when approached.

Mute Swans are increasing in the United Kingdom after a ban on the use of lead weights and lead shot was imposed. The population of these swans in Britain is around 20,000.

Today, the Crown (British monarch) retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen only exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners' and Dyers' Companies, who were granted rights of ownership by the Crown in the fifteenth century.

Image taken early with a low sun across from the left, bright and hard reflection from water. Cokin Polariser used with mild effect only. Picture "as shot" in RAW: mild adjustment only using RAW 4:3:1. and Photoshop. Cut/cropped to size, saved to jpeg.

ISO 100, F-stop 6.3 exposure at 1/320. Aperture length 300mm. Hand held, manual focus.
Argus, boreocypriensis, bahadir, degani, nkasot has marked this note useful
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To Argus: Male swangerbilratz 3 02-19 11:44
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2008-02-19 9:44]
  • [+]

Hello Howard,
A superb portrait of a Mute Swan cob shown in fine lighting and taken from a fine POV that shows it in fine elegance. The slight softness adds to the artistic quality of this image. The lighting and composition against the blue water are superb.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Ivan

Hello Hovard,
Very beautiful portrait of this male swan. Fantastic sharpness, details and vivid and clear colours. The deep blue BG is amazing.
TFS
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Howard,
Very nice portrait of this splendid specimen of Mute Swann,
lovely colours and lighting,
cheer my friend,
Pat

Hi Howard,
An excellent shot,the sharpness,colors and detail are stunning,super camerahandling. TFS.
Greetings,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • degani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 0 N: 286] (2148)
  • [2008-02-23 23:24]

hi Howard Shirley,
this is a beautiful portrait of a swan that seems to pose for the picture, very well done
best regards
franco

Hi Howard,
Excellent sharpness and very good colors. Impressive the wealth of details. TFS.
Regards,
Nazım

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