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Black Swan


Black Swan
Photo Information
Copyright: Chris T Pehlivan (CTP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 774 W: 6 N: 1107] (3183)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-16
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D / Digital Rebel XT, Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-12-19 17:01
Viewed: 1174
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello Everyone,
This is another photo that I took at the Indianapolis Zoo and I hope you like it:)
Cheers and Happy Holidays,
Chris Tolga


Black Swan, Cygnus atratus is a large non-migratory waterbird which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest of Australia. It is also found along the east coast of Australia, Tasmania and recently reintroduced in New Zealand. Prior to the arrival of the Māori, a sub-species known as the New Zealand Swan used to live in New Zealand. This subspecies was hunted to extinction. The Black Swan was formerly placed into a monotypic genus, Chenopis.

The Black Swan is commonly found in the wetlands of southern Australia. Unfortunately, human inhabitance has decreased the population of the swan. The current global population of the Black Swan is approximately around 500,000 individuals.

The Black Swan is 130cm (52in) long and weighs up to 9kg (20lbs). It has all black plumage, except for the red bill, dark grey legs and white tips of the wing feathers. The neck is long and curved in an "S". On its red bill, there is a white bar near the tip. Both sexes are similar, with female slightly smaller and lighter than male. The cygnets have light grey plumage.

The Southern Hemisphere swan species differ from the all-white Northern Hemisphere swans in that they all have some black in the plumage, but only the Black Swan is almost completely black. However, its closest living relative is probably the Mute Swan which is most similar, except in body plumage.

Every year, the adults moult and become flightless. During this time they gather on open lakes in flocks. The diet consists mainly of water plants and unlike many other waterbirds, they spend their entire lives in the area where they were hatched.

As with other swans, the Black Swan is largely monogamous, pairing for life. It nests on large mounds build in the middle of a shallow lake and reuses the same nest each year, restoring or rebuilding it as 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.

Black Swans were discovered by the expedition of Willem de Vlamingh to the west coast of Australia in 1697. Their discovery created great interest in Europe, where "all swans are white" had long been used as a standard example of a well-known scientific truth.

The official state emblem of Western Australia, the Black Swan is protected under the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974. It is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
JoseMiguel, izler, loot, Fisher, Ken52, pablominto, horia, RAP, dew77, SkyF, scottevers7, anavazao has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Chris,
I like so much the composition of this photo, and the way the swan's neck blends and fill the center of attention.
Great details thanks to the POV, and the blurred background works pretty well also.
The light colors of the water behind makes a good contrast with the black swan.
Congratulations and thanks for share,
JM

Hi Chris
Beautiful portrait,great colours and details
Good job,best regards and TFS

* Piotr *

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 1398 W: 3 N: 30] (486)
  • [2006-12-19 17:22]

selam dostum
bu zarif ve de guzel siyah kuguya basarili bir portre calismasi yapmissin. kompozisyonu, bakis noktasi, renkleri, alan derinligi etkisi, netlik ve detaylar super
eline saglik
selamlar
izler

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5366 W: 591 N: 3600] (9885)
  • [2006-12-19 17:29]

Hi Chris

Quite an extraordinary capture of this black swan.

Through a brilliant exposure you managed to bring out all the beautiful contrasts, colours, and textures on the black plumage. The details are very sharp and revealing. I just love the clear eye and the colourful beak. The composition and cropping was well done and the OOF BG enhances the bird considerably.

Very well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

super detail and colours,excelent presentation too!
Mircea

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-12-19 18:34]

Hi Chris,

Nicely captured and well done on the composition. Excellent work.

Mike

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 640 W: 98 N: 1241] (4189)
  • [2006-12-19 22:20]

Outstanding portrait of this black swan. The details and perfect exposure are amazing. Outstanding color saturation.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3059 W: 231 N: 6139] (20984)
  • [2006-12-20 2:35]

Good exposure on the swan, and sharp details.
I like the pose and the composition.
DOF is well chosen too.
TFS. : )

Hello Chris,
This is well framed, with an interesting curve in the composition!
Great colours and fine details in this most pleasant black swan portrait!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • radz Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 605 W: 11 N: 616] (3396)
  • [2006-12-20 4:27]

Nice portrait Chirs,exposure is spot on...

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2167 W: 218 N: 4377] (14870)
  • [2006-12-20 4:44]

Hi Chris

Another great photo from you!
This portrait of a black swan is terrific. I really like the pose of you subject and the excellent contrast created here between the subject and the bright BG.
The exposure is also great, the colors are lovely and well saturated, the framing is very nice and the composition is very beautiful.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-12-20 7:10]

Muy buena iluminación, foco y profundidad son las bases de esta bella captura Chris con agudeza y colorido muy apropiados.
El OOF del fondo permite realzar la silueta del ave con perfecto despegue.
Me gusta el encuadre elegido así como su presentación general.
Saludos y mis mejores deseos... Ricardo

Very good illumination, focus and depth are the bases of this beautiful capture Chris with very appropriate sharpness and colors.
OOF of the bottom allows to enhance the silhouette of the bird with perfect takeoff.
I like the elected framing as well as its general presentation.
Greetings and my best wihes... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-12-21 5:11]

Hello Chris,
Wonderful portrait.Exposure is spot on,details are crisp clear.I liked POV,BG,framing,exposure and composition a lot.Yeni Yilin Kutlu Olsun!
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2244 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2006-12-21 17:07]

Hello Chris,
a beautiful bird, you captured those details so well, which can be a pain somtimes with black plumage. Excellent POV and very nice OOF BG that shows off the graceful bird very well.
Merry Christmas.
Sky

Hi Chris,
A superb portrait shot on this Black Swan. Perfect exposure has great color and sharp detail in the black plumage. Excellent red beak. Flawless composition and framing on the shoy. Nice camera work!
Happy Holidays,
Scott

Oops..outta :)'s tonight..will revisit

Merhaba Tolga,
Mükemmel bir kare.Renkler, netlik, kontrast be arka zemin harika.Eline sağlık.

hAyAti

nefis renkler yaw..........

All the best to you in New Year my friend:)
Great close-up, sharp colours and details!
I come back next year he he..
Take care Ana:)

bonjour chris
ce portrait est tres bien realisé avec une bonne netteté sur la tęte, de belles couleurs et une belle lumiere.
bravo.
laurent

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