Sharon Prislipsky, APSA, EPSA
February 2025 - Cygnet Splash
Original
About the Image(s)
In mid-January we made our annual trip to photograph the southern flock of Trumpeter swans that hangs out in central Arkansas from Thanksgiving to Valentine's Day. We have been doing this for so many years that it is getting difficult to capture an image that is different from what I have done in the past. This image was captured with the Canon R5 and Canon 100-500mm lens handheld. Settings were ISO 800; 1/3200 sec.;f/9.0.
I think there are other crops that could work for this image but I chose the square because it uses the Golden Spiral to guide the viewer's eye through the image. I flipped the image, made global adjustments, adjusted the white balance and tweaked the tone curve in Lightroom. I lightened the shadows and brought down a few highlights in photoshop. I used the polarizing filter and Pro Contrast in Colr Efex to finish the image. Thanks in advance for any suggestions for improvement.
13 comments posted
I think you captured a great moment of action and your shutter speed was high enough to freeze the flying water. The goose looks sharp especially around the head and eye. Usually when people flip an image it is so the subject looks to the right, so I'm curious about your decision to flip the other way. I don't think either way is right or wrong just wondering what your reasoning was. Posted: 02/06/2025 00:52:04
Honestly, Pam, my decision to flip it was more of a "gut" reaction or feeling than any adherence to rules of composiiton. I was thinking about the Golden Spiral which entails an arc that connects opposite corners and to me it just seemed flow in that direction. Posted: 02/06/2025 16:42:47
Wonderful image and post processing, particularly your handling of the highlights. I like this crop a lot. The shape of the splashes add a lot for me. I'm also curious as to your flipping but think, for whatever reason, it looks best the way you handled it. I often flip mine for the action to go from left to right primarily because I prefer my logo to go in the lower left and not be in front of movement. If this were mine, I'd leave it flipped and put my logo in the upper right. Bravo! Posted: 02/06/2025 10:42:28
Thanks, Mike. I saw that the lines more or less created a golden spiral, which of course could go in either direction. But it felt more natural and organiz to me this way. Posted: 02/06/2025 16:45:13
MAGNIFICENT! I love the crop and flip. It is a fanciful image that suggests fairy tales. Posted: 02/10/2025 21:01:18
Your comment made me smile. I like the idea of the fairytale. Thank you. Posted: 02/11/2025 20:18:53
I also love this image. Brilliant job handling the whites and bringing out the detail in the water splash, both behind the swan's head and in front of the bird. Your orientation of the bird is just right, my eye moves left to right, from the splash to the beak and eye. I'm with Judith, this is a bit of Swan Lake. It could be a book cover! Posted: 02/12/2025 20:31:26
Great drama and action makes this a compelling image. The movement of the water compliments the texture of the swan and great focusing throughout. Was this taken on a Manual setting or a Shutter Speed setting as you have captured the movement perfectly with your Shutter speed? A wonderful fairy tale for sure. Posted: 02/14/2025 18:22:42
Yes, I ways use manual for birds. Metereing was center weighted. Back button auto focus, AI Servo with animal eye setting. Posted: 02/14/2025 18:28:40
I will try more 'Manual' shots as normally I am on Autofocus so you have inspired me to practice more! Posted: 02/16/2025 16:19:09
Another wonderful image. Your settings were great and the shutter speed allowed for great stop action with the swan's movement and the stop action of the water it is splashing around. I believe that your flip decision was brilliant in this case as it is a change the perspective from most usual birding photography and creates a second look at the bird and action. With the crop you have really highlighted the swan and action. Posted: 02/15/2025 21:19:39
I appreciate your comments - and your encouragment - Tom. We have had a tough winter in Central Arkansas and i have not had much oportunity for bird photography. Maybe Florida next year. Posted: 02/18/2025 17:13:20
I think the south Florida area is starting to come back nicely from the storms over the past 2 summers. There has been a big increase in bird activity in the southern Everglades region and the birds are coming back to Sanibel. Although there have been major changes to the bottom landscapes of the water and the low tide areas of land have vastly increased in size the wading birds have accumulated very well. We shall see what this hurricane season does but we are due for a break. Posted: 02/18/2025 17:52:59