This Mute Swan was lying on the ice with its mate and when it went to get up, it found out its whole breast and bottom were frozen to the ice. Another guy that was there went and got a bucket of warm water while I got the scraper from my car. Between the water and scraper, we got the Swan free.
Wow, these are technically spot on in my view. Super sharp, great light and colour, real pop.
I like them all, but no.3 is my pick, great composition, the exposure is perfect and the whole image really captures the essence of the bird very well.
Wow and i'm complaining about 62 degree temperatures in south florida. Can't believe anything is flying in that cold, i'd be frozen solid at that temp. Good going there.
Hey Jody,
I love all the shots with your, JUST KIDDING, MKIV. But even better, I liked the rescue Swan story. Some stories do have good endings. Thats nice to know these days. I think you deserve the Cigar for the photos and for the rescue!
Gary
Wow, these are technically spot on in my view. Super sharp, great light and colour, real pop.
I like them all, but no.3 is my pick, great composition, the exposure is perfect and the whole image really captures the essence of the bird very well.
capt don wrote:
Wow and i'm complaining about 62 degree temperatures in south florida. Can't believe anything is flying in that cold, i'd be frozen solid at that temp. Good going there.
Thanks Don! When it is around that temp, you have to make sure you dress for it.
Good stuff, nicely sharp and well coloured. Glad to see that your new camera seems to be working good.
A couple of minor suggestions :
There is something I call "Kinetic framing" of BIF....if the above ducks/pijuns were given more of the bottom air space, in addition to the "noseroom" you've done nicely, that would convey a better sense of the birds riding "aloft".
Also, I am partial to non-sky backgrounds for BIF, shot more on the "level", but that's kinda individual too. .....to my taste any background is generally better than empty sky for BIF. If the two last BIFs had backgrounds like the other BIFs you showed in this post, they would look even better IMHO.
Jody as much as i am put off by your blinking avtar ( don`t take it personally, to me all blinkings are a distraction) I have to admit that I am entirely overwhelmed by your images. They are always all so good I cannot chose favorites. Take care. Bob
Another beautiful series Jody, and i dont think a MK IV would give you any improvement upon these. I would like to see a pic of you out there with the ice scraper peeling swan off the ice
I just checked my shutter count yesterday and it is at 197000 and still kicking!
Another guy that was there went and got a bucket of warm water while I got the scraper from my car. Between the water and scraper, we got the Swan free. 
