#271: Seductive Swan

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Steve Spencer
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p.1 #1 · #271: Seductive Swan

Saw a pair of swans in the river by my house. This guy at one point was showing off for his mate.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Comments and critiques are very much appreciated.

Edited by Steve Spencer on Nov 03, 2007 at 04:06 PM GMT

Edited by Steve Spencer on Nov 03, 2007 at 05:22 PM GMT

Edited by Steve Spencer on Nov 03, 2007 at 05:23 PM GMT

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 04:59 PM

Ryan Thomas
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p.1 #2 · #271: Seductive Swan

I like the shot, but if it were mine I would brighten it up a bit.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 06:32 PM

levartze
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p.1 #3 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Steve,

Nice thought! To most its just a bird flapping wings, but to its mate, its sight of beauty and that attraction proliferates continuation of the species.

I agree with Ryan, its a little too dark for me as well.
Bob

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 09:01 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #4 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Ryan and Bob,

Thanks for your kind words and your advice about the shot. I have brightened it a bit and re-posted. I think brightening it did help. Thanks again.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 09:08 PM

Beverly Guhl 6-time assignment winner

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p.1 #5 · #271: Seductive Swan

Steve, nice subject and great action capture. If this is the brightened image then I'd encourage you to take to to another level and get your whites whiter & brighter on this (in PS, using levels, set your white point with the white eye dropper tool, and the black one for your black). You'll gain wonderful contrast and this will really pop. I'd prefer a different crop personally; he looks a little tightly boxed in here. Good luck!!

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 09:31 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #6 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Bev,

Thanks a ton for the pointers in PS. I didn't know that trick with levels. I also pulled the crop back a bit. Both I think improved it a bunch. I really appreciate the help that people give in this forum and that you in particular are always so positive and helpful.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 10:26 PM

mark nicoll
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p.1 #7 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Steve
You may know this one already but in levels if you click on the black and white triangles on the histogram as well as holding down the ALT key on your keyboard you will get a shadow and highlights threshhold view. This allows you to identify and chose where clipping occurs.
Take care
Mark

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 10:55 PM

jban99

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p.1 #8 · #271: Seductive Swan

Beautiful picture Steve.
Didn’t see the previous versions but whatever adjustments you did worked beautifully.
She really knows how to make herself look very attractive!

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 03, 2007 at 11:51 PM

Beverly Guhl 6-time assignment winner

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p.1 #9 · #271: Seductive Swan

Steve Spencer wrote:
Hi Bev,

Thanks a ton for the pointers in PS. I didn't know that trick with levels. I also pulled the crop back a bit. Both I think improved it a bunch. I really appreciate the help that people give in this forum and that you in particular are always so positive and helpful.

You're so welcome! You did a fabulous job on the corrections. Really looks good now.
This URL has some great info, including the info about levels and using the eyedropper tools.
http://www.twistedtreephoto.com/Photoshop%20tutorial/Photoshop%20tutorial1.html

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 04, 2007 at 02:12 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #10 · #271: Seductive Swan

Thanks again for the PS help, Mark and Beverly. In my normal post-processing I use Aperture for RAW conversion, contrast, saturation, highlights, shadows, and levels. Then I use CS3 for cloning, layers, and sharpening. So I haven't used CS3 for levels much at all. You comments were very helpful. Thank you and jban99 for your kind words about the shot as well.

Edited by Steve Spencer on Nov 04, 2007 at 05:18 PM GMT

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 04, 2007 at 02:41 AM

nlamendo

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p.1 #11 · #271: Seductive Swan

Great shot Steve,
This guy is really strutting his stuff. It's a beautiful bird. How close were you to it? Are they approachable?
Thanks
-Nick

Edited by nlamendo on Nov 04, 2007 at 08:16 PM GMT (Reason: typo)

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 04, 2007 at 03:57 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #12 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your words of encouragement. I took the shot from a bridge over the river they were swimming in. I don't think they noticed me. I was about 20 to 30 feet away and I used my 70-200mm f/4L IS at 200mm with my 1.6X crop factor this would be a full frame equivalent of about 320mm. My experience with swans is if they notice you they often try to run you off, so it is a lot easier to get off shots if they don't notice you. Thanks again for your comments.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 04, 2007 at 04:19 PM

markoner
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p.1 #13 · #271: Seductive Swan

Great catch, perfect timing ! A litteral attempt to be attractive :-)
I'd like to see more space left but it's a great shot.

Cheers,

Julien

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 04, 2007 at 10:02 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #14 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Julien,

Thanks for your kind words. I wish I could have left a little more room at the top, but she raised out the water pretty fast, so this was the best I could do to adjust. Thanks again,

Steve

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 05, 2007 at 12:39 AM

nlamendo

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p.1 #15 · #271: Seductive Swan

Steve Spencer wrote:
Hi Nick,

Thanks for your words of encouragement. I took the shot from a bridge over the river they were swimming in. I don't think they noticed me. I was about 20 to 30 feet away and I used my 70-200mm f/4L IS at 200mm with my 1.6X crop factor this would be a full frame equivalent of about 320mm. My experience with swans is if they notice you they often try to run you off, so it is a lot easier to get off shots if they don't notice you. Thanks again for your comments.

Thanks for the info Steve, it's good to know for future reference how they react when approached.
-Nick

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 05, 2007 at 01:21 AM

nlamendo

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p.1 #16 · #271: Seductive Swan

Nov 05, 2007 at 01:21 AM

hopes2
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p.1 #17 · #271: Seductive Swan

Just showing off-----maybe it's trying to get out of that cold Canadian water.

Good luck...Dan.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 05, 2007 at 02:21 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #18 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Dan,

Thanks for your comments. Good luck this week.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 05, 2007 at 01:21 PM

Philly Rains 1-time assignment winner

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p.1 #19 · #271: Seductive Swan

Great capture, Steve! You're right about swans....they aren't very friendly, especially when they're in a romantic mood.

You got great tips, and while I didn't see the others, I think you did a super job on this one. Great color and sharpness.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 05, 2007 at 08:50 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #20 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Philly,

Thanks for the kind words. The tips people provided were great. I learned a lot this week.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 06, 2007 at 12:05 AM

FJR1

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p.1 #21 · #271: Seductive Swan

Nice one, Steve. I watched a pair of swans raise a single cygnet on my drive to work this past spring/summer. Beautiful capture.--Frank

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 06, 2007 at 10:56 PM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #22 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Frank,

Thanks for the kind words. Swans really are remarkable in their devotion to their mates. I have watched this pair all summer. The river is only about 200 yards from our house.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 07, 2007 at 01:17 AM

TRENTPULL
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p.1 #23 · #271: Seductive Swan

Steve Spencer wrote:
Saw a pair of swans in the river by my house. This guy at one point was showing off for his mate.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Nov 07, 2007 at 06:35 AM

Steve Spencer
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p.1 #24 · #271: Seductive Swan

Hi Trent,

Thanks for the kind words. I did learn a lot this week and really appreciate the help others have given me.

Best wishes,

Steve S.

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 07, 2007 at 12:43 PM

Patricia March
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p.1 #25 · #271: Seductive Swan

Steve....great job here. I love this guy doing his dance. You captured it well

Patty

Edited on Nov 08, 2007 at 12:03 AM

Nov 07, 2007 at 06:45 PM


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