Bud Ralston
April 2026 - Tundra Swan Takeoff
Original
About the Image(s)
During my annual trip to Northern California to photograph the great migration along the Pacific Flyway, I captured this shot of tundra swans beginning their take-off. Their heads, necks, and bellies are brown from feeding in recently flooded, shallow rice fields. It’s easy to see the water depth beneath the standing swans. The rear swan’s neck is temporarily tucked in the lead swan’s right wing. The orange lores are breeding colors for tundra swans.
Nikon Z9, Nikon Z400mm f/4.5 VR S, [600mm CF], 1/3200 @ f/5.0, 0EV, ISO 1600, Pattern Metering
There is now a new workflow recommended for Lightroom Classic that I used on this image. It incorporates the effects of the new AI tools during processing. I set up my Develop panel to reflect this. Essentially:
1. Enhance Tools (Denoise, Raw Details, Super Resolution)
These define the actual pixels you’ll be working with.
2. Distraction Removal ??“ Reflections.
3. Distraction Removal ??“ People.
4. Generative Expand (currently in Camera Raw Tech Preview).
5. Remove Tool (Generative Remove, Content-Aware Remove, Heal, Clone).
6. Lens Blur.
7. Lens Corrections.
8. Crop & Geometry.
9. Profiles (primarily Adaptive Profiles)
Other profiles can be changed later without triggering AI recalculations.
10. Global Adjustments (Light/Tone, Color, etc.).
These remain flexible but may benefit from being applied after core processing.
11. Masking - Can impact performance, especially with complex or multiple masks.
12. External Editing ??“
Send to Photoshop or other editors once your Lightroom work is complete.
Although I did not use number 12, it represents a complete change from how I have been processing photos in the past. I just forwarded the above information in case anyone is interested.
5 comments posted
Two aspects militate against the image IMO - the crop at the top of the frame is a bit tight and the image is loaded with distractions that pull the eye from the subject of swans taking flight. There are a number of mergers, the upper part of the image's background is a touch distracting and the lighter tone along the bottom of the frame pulls the viewer's eye a bit.
Having said that, I'm jealous because A) it's a truly interesting shot and B) I've never seen swans in the wild.
Posted: 04/01/2026 15:31:53
Thanks for sharing this. We have tundra swans in our area too over the winter. What graceful, beautiful birds! I also want to study your LRC procedure. I do many of these processes, but not in this order. Need to think abou that!
I think this image would be more impactful if it was a picture of the two swans taking off. I agree with butch that the crop is a little tight at the top and bottom. You can increase the canvas in PS to correct that. You might consider cloning out the birds in the background. Posted: 04/02/2026 18:52:00
I feel you have captures a "decisive moment" in the take-off by having the wings raised and the slight rise in the bodies of the geese that are lifting off. The general lack of clutter and the simple color palette add to image strength. You selected a good shutter speed and the subjects are quite sharp. I can only wish that the pair taking off were completely separated from the rest of the geese, but that is just wish full thinking and certainly not your fault.
As moderator of a PSA Nature group I do need to make a comment about Lightroom's suggested workflow. PSA Nature images have absolute rules in regard to processing. Much of the new AI features that Lightroom now features are not acceptable for nature images. Without going into a lengthy discussion let me offer this simple test to determine if what you are using is legal. Disconnect your computer from the internet and then do your editing. This is disable the AI features that are not allowed for PSA Nature editing. Posted: 04/02/2026 19:43:09
(Thank you for including the new recommended LRC Workflow. I, too, will have to look into this.)
Your image is beautiful, emanating grace and elegance. I love the soft reflections in the water of the two swans with the out spread wings. I think the reflections help emphasize the two subject swans and main point of interest. The only thing I might do is separate these two a little more from the background, or deemphasize the other swans by slightly bringing down exposure and highlights. Posted: 04/07/2026 03:35:44
You've captured a nice moment in the takeoff sequence with the outstretched wings and necks. They are nice and sharp, lots of detail in those wings. I like your "panoramic" crop as it emphasizes the shape of the overall group.
Yes the background is busy, but since everything is darker than the swans I don't think it's particularly distracting.
Very pretty image.
Posted: 04/19/2026 00:07:27