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The Black Swan


The Black Swan
Photo Information
Copyright: Richard Cridland (rcrick) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 627 W: 42 N: 1153] (3730)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS USM, SanDisk Ultra II 1GB, Hoya 77mm Pro1 DMC UV LPF
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Port of Brisbane Wetlands [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-27 22:37
Viewed: 560
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
In adult Black Swans the body is mostly black, with the exception of the broad white wing tips which are visible in flight. The bill is a deep orange-red, paler at the tip, with a distinct narrow white band towards the end. Younger birds are much greyer in colour,

They are found throughout Australia with the exception of Cape York Peninsula, and are more common in the south. The Black Swan has been introduced into several countries, including New Zealand, where it is now common, and is a vagrant to New Guinea.

Black Swans prefer larger salt, brackish or fresh waterways and permanent wetlands, requiring 40 m or more of clear water to take off. Outside the breeding season, Black Swans travel quite large distances. Birds fly at night and rest during the day with other swans.

They form isolated pairs or small colonies in shallow wetlands. Birds pair for life, with both adults raising one brood per season. The eggs are laid in an untidy nest made of reeds and grasses. The nest is placed either on a small island or floated in deeper water.

The chicks are covered in grey down, and are able to swim and feed themselves as soon as they hatch.

Details; Shot Raw converted to Jpeg cropped and reduced in size, sharpened slightly prior to posting.


Camera Model Canon EOS 5D
Shooting Date/Time 22/04/2008 12:58:52 PM
Shooting Mode Shutter-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/125
Av( Aperture Value ) 11.0
Metering Mode Center-Weighted Average Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 320
Lens EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Focal Length 320.0 mm
Image Size 721x800
Image Quality Superfine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Picture Style Neutral
Sharpness 5
Contrast 2
Saturation 2
Color tone 1
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction On
File Size 114 KB
Custom Function C.Fn:00-0
Drive Mode Continuous shooting
yasin, JPlumb, Royaldevon, matatur, SueThomson, aes_thor, Pentaxian, jpdenk, goldyrs, writerscrawlz, maurydv, ramthakur, PaulH, uleko, iris has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To iris: The Black Swanrcrick 1 06-04 22:22
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • yasin Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 31 W: 1 N: 43] (129)
  • [2008-05-27 23:25]

Hi Richard,
very clever composition, and full of details.
I like your notes, so inspiring.
TFS,

Yasin

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 160 N: 894] (2837)
  • [2008-05-27 23:31]

Very nice Rick. This is one of the better Black Swan shots I think I've seen. I don't know what you did to get it to pose like that, and ruffle up it's feathers, but this is awesome. You even got it to drip some water for you. Lighting is good, with the sun nicely reflecting off it's back, and I see you used a UV filter, but you still got a decent view of the bottom of the pond. Colour is very good, and the textures (especially those ruffled feathers), awesome.

Thanks, John

This is a beautiful bird indeed Richard, and your backlighted shot demonstrates its colouration and plumage characteristics perfectly in a finely focused and exposed frame. TFS this and cheers my friend.
Mehmet

Good information, Richard.
This is a beautiful, proud bird. It looks so regal as it glides towards the viewer!
The details are exceptionally clear and the light, perfect!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
pl :-)

Hi Rick
Definately the capture of the bird with the ruffled feathers is the winner on this one. Nice composition and i like the water drop too.
Cheers
Sue

Hi Richard!
Fantastic shot of this beautifull bird. Great natural composition, nice water and sun light. Well done!
cheers
Adrian

Hello Rick,
Wonderful capture of the Black Swan. Great detail and composition. I especially like the use of light and shadow to highlight its backfeathers. TFS Thomas

  • Great 
  • jpdenk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 265 W: 1 N: 396] (1076)
  • [2008-05-28 13:02]

Hi Rick,

Looks almost like it was posing for you, an excellent composition for showing this impressive bird in all its glory. The lighting really shows the texture of the feathers toward the back of the body, everything is good and sharp, even froze the water drop next to it!

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • darwin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 246 W: 0 N: 455] (1714)
  • [2008-05-28 20:49]

Hi Rick
Great shot with superb detail and wonderful color tones in the plumage
Splendid pose you captured with nice glint in eye
Nice touch and excellent timing on the water droplet
tfs jon

I cannot tell perfection that its perfect, I love this shot, Richard!!
Cheers!
Goldy

I don't think I've ever seen a black swan before. This photo is one of beauty and grace, and almost a bit of shyness, I think. Beautiful pose, stunning composition, and the sharpness really allows the viewer to see the finer details. The POV is nailed and caught my attention immediately. Excellent job!

Rick,

Thanks for sharing this wonderful shot. I've never seen a black swan before - this bird is great! It is a total contrast to your normal 'white' swan.
You've done very well with the settings, all details came out very well and the composition fits the bird's pose. Very nicely done and TFS!

Best Regards,

Martin

Hello Richard,
Great shot of this black swan, excellent sharpness and good depth of field, superb details in the plummage, good pose and lovely catchlight, beautiful colors and nice clarity, I love his red eye.
Angela

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-31 20:32]

Hello Rick

These swans really are fancy looking.
The tail feathers look like it just got back from the beauty parlour.
Wonderful focus and details.
Very good use of the lighting.
Excellent POV and DOF.
The subtle tilt of the head really gives this swan a shy,coy appearance.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • RP1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 165 W: 1 N: 124] (1982)
  • [2008-06-01 2:39]

Hi Richard,
Beautiful capture of the Black Swans. Nice composition and i like the water drop.
Merci,
Roger

Splendido ritratto di questo cigno nero, ottimi POV e composizione, eccellente nitidezza, fantastici i colori e la luce radente che esalta il bellissimo piumaggio. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Richard!
What a beautiful portrait of this black swan!
Great pov and compo.
Regards,
Iulian

Richard, I must congratulate you for this astonishingly beautiful capture of a Black Swan.
Now wait a moment; isn't there a famous play "Black Swan" by some famous playwright?Could it be Ibsen? Or is it some musical composition? I think I am getting senile!
The back-lit subjects are not easy to shoot but you have excelled yourself in this picture. You have utilized the light from the back to great advantage.
Best of all are the circular wavelets created by the water drop that has dripped off the bird's bill. They are so beautiful and so very well captured.
Thanks for sharing this remarkable picture and best regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 2998] (10820)
  • [2008-06-04 5:17]

Hi Rick,
excellent detail in those dark feathers and very nicely composed too. Love the concentric ripples going outwards from him, really nice effect mate.
tfs
Paul

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2008-06-04 9:41]

Hello Rick,
This is a great capture of this beautiful Swan in a fine pose. Beautiful light on the feathers, lovely colours and great sharpness. I like the drops from its beak forming rings on the water. Very well done!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 41 N: 735] (2314)
  • [2008-06-04 16:36]
  • [+]

Dear Rick,
It has been a while since you posted this most elegant looking swan.I remember seeing it right there as the first entry at some point of time on TN gallery.But that particular day i was busy and was just taking sneak peeks...but i noted that i had to come back and see this beauty once again.
First, of all i have never seen a Black Swan and this is a totally new thing to me.Second, I have never seen Swan with that kind of a plumage as if it is trimmed and nicely manicured. I love the pose you have captured and even as it is the very pose they strike naturally you enhanced the beauty of the shot by right PoV and a close crop giving it a portrait kind of look.I love the red eye and the slight angled look it gives.The best part here is the little water drop that is hitting the water, most likely having left its beak and what brilliint timing to just get this beautiful bit.I love the little ripples that is forming around the swan also indicating it had just lifted its beak from the water.This is indeed a very fine capture Rick.It is almost as it the swan is giving you a very gentle smile.The light falling on its lacelike plumage highlights the patterns on it.
Thank you for sharing this beauty...into my favourites.

Cheers

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