Mute swan ... scooting / sprinting _2

puzzledpaul · March 17, 2016

Thought it was about time for a version with lots of stripey bits - just for Jim (pathfinder)

Original
http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=210909

pp

Stumblebum · March 17, 2016

Incredible image PP! Light, POV and timing couldn't be better!

If one were to be too picky, I would say I wished just a little more room up top...

Cheers!

Thelensspot · March 17, 2016

Wow! I love it! Nice work, PP.

pathfinder · March 17, 2016

Spectacular capture!!

I like the composition just fine. The stripey bits don't bother me at all. This is a great demonstration of the water level shooting Paul has on his website.

ziggy53 · March 17, 2016

A very unique and perfectly executed image capture and processing. Love the subtle tones and high level of detail in the wings.

David_S85 · March 17, 2016

Good Heavens! Perfect timing and focus. With a body that looks heavy and wide, you have to wonder how they can fly at all.

Tony Britton · March 17, 2016

Congratulations on this magazine quality photograph. Sensational work!

Tony

puzzledpaul · March 18, 2016

Thanks all for stopping by and commenting - much appreciated

Stumblebum wrote: »

... If one were to be too picky, I would say I wished just a little more room up top...

Oh, there's plenty of 'room up top' S, 'cos whatever little used to exist between my ears decades ago has leaked out, leaving the yawning chasm that exists today ...

No, you're not being 'picky' - I too would've liked more bg above the subject - since there would've been more great water there, together with other crop possibilities ... however ...

This is frame 6 of 8 of this action.
Prior to this I'd been photographing another swan (a juvenile) much closer, that was in the water, paddling towards me - so my AF point (on its eye) was the top R corner one of the centre block on the 7Dm2.

Iirc, I then heard the slapping noise of the scooting swan's wings on the water, lifted head (from angle finder) to see where this noise was coming from - and in which direction it was travelling - I moved cam and tried to get a lock.

Many silent oaths were uttered about the AF point location after that, because of what I could see in the viewfinder - but I kept shooting (and) fingers crossed ... and hoped.

Exif shows a 9 sec gap between previous pic and first pic of this sequence and a 2 sec period covering the 8 frames of the action.

A better / quicker / more experienced 'tog than I would've probably shifted the AF point automatically in the 9 sec gap, having assessed the situation ...

I've no idea what others (would) do in this situation - but I'm happy that I got a half decent crop (this represents approx. 60% of orig area) out of it.

Having said all of this, I could probably add more, nicked from the previous frame, since the swan's wings are horizontal, providing a clean bg area.

pp

sarasphotos · March 18, 2016

Great capture - wonderful detail. Wow!!!

clap

denisegoldberg · March 18, 2016

This is fabulous!

--- Denise

Cavalier · March 18, 2016

What everyone else said!

pathfinder · March 18, 2016

puzzledpaul wrote: »

Thanks all for stopping by and commenting - much appreciated

Oh, there's plenty of 'room up top' S, 'cos whatever little used to exist between my ears decades ago has leaked out, leaving the yawning chasm that exists today ...

No, you're not being 'picky' - I too would've liked more bg above the subject - since there would've been more great water there, together with other crop possibilities ... however ...

This is frame 6 of 8 of this action.
Prior to this I'd been photographing another swan (a juvenile) much closer, that was in the water, paddling towards me - so my AF point (on its eye) was the top R corner one of the centre block on the 7Dm2.

Iirc, I then heard the slapping noise of the scooting swan's wings on the water, lifted head (from angle finder) to see where this noise was coming from - and in which direction it was travelling - I moved cam and tried to get a lock.

Many silent oaths were uttered about the AF point location after that, because of what I could see in the viewfinder - but I kept shooting (and) fingers crossed ... and hoped.

Exif shows a 9 sec gap between previous pic and first pic of this sequence and a 2 sec period covering the 8 frames of the action.

A better / quicker / more experienced 'tog than I would've probably shifted the AF point automatically in the 9 sec gap, having assessed the situation ...

I've no idea what others (would) do in this situation - but I'm happy that I got a half decent crop (this represents approx. 60% of orig area) out of it.

Having said all of this, I could probably add more, nicked from the previous frame, since the swan's wings are horizontal, providing a clean bg area.

pp

How many times does it happen that we hear the action before we see it?

This often happens while photographing wildlife.

And then you try to scurry around and acquire focus and composition in a big hurry.

It is interesting/scary/exciting when you hear a whale exhale behind you that you didn't even know was there.

Stumblebum · March 18, 2016

puzzledpaul wrote: »

Thanks all for stopping by and commenting - much appreciated

Oh, there's plenty of 'room up top' S, 'cos whatever little used to exist between my ears decades ago has leaked out, leaving the yawning chasm that exists today ...

No, you're not being 'picky' - I too would've liked more bg above the subject - since there would've been more great water there, together with other crop possibilities ... however ...

This is frame 6 of 8 of this action.
Prior to this I'd been photographing another swan (a juvenile) much closer, that was in the water, paddling towards me - so my AF point (on its eye) was the top R corner one of the centre block on the 7Dm2.

Iirc, I then heard the slapping noise of the scooting swan's wings on the water, lifted head (from angle finder) to see where this noise was coming from - and in which direction it was travelling - I moved cam and tried to get a lock.

Many silent oaths were uttered about the AF point location after that, because of what I could see in the viewfinder - but I kept shooting (and) fingers crossed ... and hoped.

Exif shows a 9 sec gap between previous pic and first pic of this sequence and a 2 sec period covering the 8 frames of the action.

A better / quicker / more experienced 'tog than I would've probably shifted the AF point automatically in the 9 sec gap, having assessed the situation ...

I've no idea what others (would) do in this situation - but I'm happy that I got a half decent crop (this represents approx. 60% of orig area) out of it.

Having said all of this, I could probably add more, nicked from the previous frame, since the swan's wings are horizontal, providing a clean bg area.

pp

Nice play by play PP! Great shot nonetheless! Cheers!

puzzledpaul · March 18, 2016

Sara, Denise, Jo ... thanks for stopping by and adding your comments too ...

pathfinder wrote: »

And then you try to scurry around and acquire focus and composition in a big hurry.

Reckon someone's been watching me in action (using the term loosely) under normal conditions ..let alone semi panic scenarios ...

pp

wave01 · March 19, 2016

very nicely done

roaddog52 · March 19, 2016

A fantastic capture

thumb. My second thought was how this so much reminded me of a C130 lifting off.

Phil

puzzledpaul · March 22, 2016

wave, roaddog, thanks for having a shufties and commenting - rd, yes I often wonder similar thoughts after getting this sort of shot (esp Canada geese) ... altho' I hope no C130 ends up with this sort of wing angle.

Thought the last shot of the sequence was a better fit, but after another look, I reckon it's more similar to one of the Antonovs

pp

Brian_S · March 23, 2016

great image, love the angle captured, exposure is superb, nicely done

puzzledpaul · March 23, 2016

Thanks, Brian ... (low) angle is standard ... for me, because I prefer the results, image had a bit of messing in PShop ... but not much - for once I got it nearly right.
Love / hate relationship with these critters - they sometimes offer opportunities (rarely taken) like this, but more often than not - like today, they paddle so close they block off half the lake and the other birds ... and when they're not doing this, they lurk in the bg and render out as oof white blobs - great - not !

pp

fool4thecity · March 28, 2016

WOW, Great capture with stunning detail.

puzzledpaul · April 1, 2016

Thanks for the comment, f4tc.

pp

Mute swan ... scooting / sprinting _2

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