A (very) rare visitor..

harry cannoli · Mar 27, 2010

I knew after I had a great day a month ago that I used up a month's worth of mojo in a single day. Don't get me wrong, it was worth it, but I haven't charged a battery in 4 weeks. Things were brutal..

Until today..

A very rare visitor to the area. According to Sibley, the Mute Swan is rare most anywhere, particularly in the West. (Your mileage may vary)

AW

Horray! The mojo is back

Cheers,
Rich

JolieO · Mar 27, 2010

...and perfect in every way. I was wondering where you were.
Regards,
Jolene
--

My galleries-- http://www.zenfolio.com/jolieo

harry cannoli · Mar 27, 2010

Jolene,

Things around here are pretty hectic right now. I heard this bird was around and went out looking for him. This bird is huge and amazingly graceful. Tomorrow morning I'll be rewiring the cooing fan in my car (harnass damaged), then I'm out to (hopefully) get this guy in some nice light on some flat water. I hope he sticks around for one more day. I don't know where he's supposed to be, but it isn't around here. He seems content, well fed and healthy, but I have to worry when I see a bird that doesn't belong here. What should happen is that he should take off to wherever he belongs after I get the shots I want tomorrow morning

As always, thanks for your kind words.

Regards,
Rich

ER_ Wizard · Mar 27, 2010

I would also give up some mojo if I could possibly catch something like that....he is poetry in motion...so beautiful. I also love the droplets of water that you caught, you have done very well, Rich.

Now all will be forgiven when you enter my MComp.

Cheers & good luck with the next capture.
Jill
--

May the Focus be with you
707,717,828,R1,P8,H9,A700,A350

Boros · Mar 27, 2010

Hi Rich, those are excellent.

Boros
--
Feel free to comment, there's still a lot to learn

jrdu · Mar 28, 2010

Love those drops in the second one...both great.
--
John Dunn
Portraits: http://www.fototime.com/users/[email protected]/Portraits

JJ Winkel · Mar 28, 2010

Is that 600 mm = 300 + 2x converter ?
---
JJ.

bikeguy · Mar 28, 2010

Congrats...great shots, both...love the water drops off the beak in the second one and you nailed (of course) those whites and all those details on the body in the first one!

As it happens, I went up to the pool on the East Side of Central Park last week and there are two Mute Swans there that I saw for the first time...got a couple of close-ups, but nothing as good as yours...Kudos.

Happy Mojo,

Charles

--
http://www.pbase.com/charleschessler
http://www.pbase.com/charleschessler/canon50d
http://www.pbase.com/charleschessler/birdsofcentralpark

jp4 · Mar 28, 2010

Very nice, what model camera did you use?

tallymom · Mar 28, 2010

These are fantastic!!!

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

Jill,

I got really lucky, that's for sure.

ER_ Wizard said:
I would also give up some mojo if I could possibly catch something like that....he is poetry in motion...so beautiful. I also love the droplets of water that you caught, you have done very well, Rich.

Now all will be forgiven when you enter my MComp.

Ohhh..

ER_ Wizard said:
Cheers & good luck with the next capture.
Jill

Likewise to you.

Regards,
Rich

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

Thanks so much.

Cheers,
Rich

Boros said:
Hi Rich, those are excellent.

Boros
--
Feel free to comment, there's still a lot to learn

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

Thanks much, John.

Regards,
Rich

jrdu said:
Love those drops in the second one...both great.
--
John Dunn
Portraits: http://www.fototime.com/users/[email protected]/Portraits

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

Yes,

300 f/2.8 with the 2X.

JJ Winkel said:
Is that 600 mm = 300 + 2x converter ?
---
JJ.

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

Charles,

The exposure was really tough, from where I was the bird was backlit, I only got a few keepers, those shots where I overexposed a bit and blasted him with flash. I'm looking forward to going back later today and trying again.

It's amazing what can be found in a duck pond.

I have never seen a swan before this. I have seen tundra swans, but they are always so far away. This guy here was eating bread that was being thrown out to him. Next time I do this, it will be with my 70-200.

This has to be the coolest bird I have seen in a long time.

Looking forward to seeing some of your swan shots. Thaks for your nice words.

Rich

bikeguy said:
Congrats...great shots, both...love the water drops off the beak in the second one and you nailed (of course) those whites and all those details on the body in the first one!

As it happens, I went up to the pool on the East Side of Central Park last week and there are two Mute Swans there that I saw for the first time...got a couple of close-ups, but nothing as good as yours...Kudos.

Happy Mojo,

Charles

--
http://www.pbase.com/charleschessler
http://www.pbase.com/charleschessler/canon50d
http://www.pbase.com/charleschessler/birdsofcentralpark

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

Thank you

Rich

tallymom said:
These are fantastic!!!

busch · Mar 28, 2010

Sure like that first image! Beautiful!

--
Busch

Take the scenic route! Life is too short to do otherwise.

http://www.pbase.com/busch

khoss · Mar 28, 2010

I know it's rare out there (somewhat more common here) but the composition you got is pretty rare anywhere - feels good, huh. I had a quick return of mojo a few weeks ago in the swamp (posted in the wildlife thread of 3/21) but I guess I got spolied because this past week has been slim ..I know your pain and share your joy ..
Regards,
Kurt
--
For some random samples:
http://www.pbase.com/khoss/
http://www.pbase.com/susanshaw
http://www.susanandkurt.blogspot.com
http://www.slshaw.info

meaness · Mar 28, 2010

Your mojo is definitely back.... WOW !!!

harry cannoli · Mar 28, 2010

jp4 said:
Very nice, what model camera did you use?

Thanks!

I shot this with a 20D with a 300 f/2.8L with a 2X teleconverter, giving me 600mm. I used flash to fill in shadows, a 580EXII with a Better Beamer. As always, I shot this in RAW, which allowed me the latitude to recover detail in the highlights that would have otherwise been lost.

Regards,
Rich

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