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A Black Swan


A Black Swan
Photo Information
Copyright: Fran King (sugah_bear69) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 601 W: 62 N: 1227] (4362)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-01-31
Categories: Nature
Camera: Olympus E 500, Canon Zoom Lens 3X 5.4-16.2mm 1.2 8-4.8, Marumi 58mm UV Haze
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Swans, Swan photos of my choice [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-01-31 18:28
Viewed: 710
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Swans are large water birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae.

Swans usually mate for life, though "divorce" does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch is between 3–8.

The word is derived from Old English swan, akin to German Schwan, in turn derived from Indo-European root *swen (to sound, to sing), whence Latin derives sonus (sound). (Webster's New World Dictionary) Young swans are known as cygnets, from the Latin word for swan, cygnus. An adult male is a cob, from Middle English cobbe (leader of a group); an adult female is a pen (origin unknown).

The Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage, but the Southern Hemisphere species are white-and-black. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck. The Coscoroba Swan, also from southern South America, has black tips to the primary feathers.

The legs of swans are dark blackish grey, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies; the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.

This was a very curious swan, he swam close to shore and posed for me. I took this photograph in Lafreniere Park, the day was blustery, overcast and dang cold.

Tech talk...not much, resize and framed

Thanks for stopping by,
Fran
OeilMagique, cstathoulis, perryhooter, vandana2923, JohnTulip, Werewolf, Refugee, vsinopoulos, Pops71, Josine, scottevers7, lucbus, Viking has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Viking: Hi Rob,sugah_bear69 1 02-19 13:50
To scottevers7: Hi Scott,sugah_bear69 1 02-06 10:35
To lucbus: Hi Luc,sugah_bear69 1 02-06 10:32
To Josine: Hi Josine,sugah_bear69 1 02-06 10:28
To WTS: Hi Wayne,sugah_bear69 1 02-05 23:07
To Pops71: Hi Pierre,sugah_bear69 1 02-05 21:33
To vsinopoulos: Hi Vassilis!sugah_bear69 1 02-04 13:03
To Refugee: Hi David,sugah_bear69 2 02-03 15:25
To harpya: Hello Sergio!sugah_bear69 2 02-02 11:59
To cleopatra: Hi Real,sugah_bear69 1 02-02 11:36
To Werewolf: Hi Alain!sugah_bear69 1 02-02 11:35
To JohnTulip: Hi John,sugah_bear69 1 02-02 01:09
To cstathoulis: Hello Constantinos!!!sugah_bear69 1 02-01 21:50
To perryhooter: Hi Robert,sugah_bear69 1 02-01 21:44
To vandana2923: HI Vandana,sugah_bear69 1 02-01 21:42
To Pteraspis: Hi Stephane,sugah_bear69 1 02-01 01:33
To OeilMagique: Oh my stars!!!!sugah_bear69 1 01-31 23:44
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Fran
Used to be a bar in Ottawa called the "The Black Swan", now I get to see the real McCoy. After an evening at that bar my eyes would be same color as your birds eye. Good detail on the feathers also on that red eye and beak. His feathers are in attack mode, hope with your luck with animals he did not decide to go for you....LoL

Paul

Look a this WSwan with it's red beak and eyes. Nice sharp colors nice details (feathers) Well done, thanks for sharing!

Hello Fran

Beautiful look of this black swan. the close is wonderful, as much as in their details.
Beautiful composition!
Congratulations

Sérgio

Hi Fran,

A great portrait of the black swan! It looks like you've converted the photo in B&W and you brought back the colour of its beak! :)

Well done
Constantinos

Hello Fran!

This swan is apparently used see humans around and close. Well done. I like the way you composed your shot. I would have opted for a bit lower POV, still ensuring we would see only the pond as the BG. Just a thought.
Cheers!
Robert

SWAN...black one. Great photo Fran. Nicely composed and colors. :) Vandana

follows

ps: thanks for cajun recipie. sending you indian chicken recipie over weekend. Take care.

Nice texture here Fran. I like the details and the red/grey contrast in this shot.

Well done!

Réal

Impressive view! The details are sharp and it's of a good colors. I enjoy how even the red contrast the grey... But that little white details, It's a little "plus" :)

A black Swan from Australia in your backyard?
Whats next?!? People in New Orleans walking on Dutch wooden Clogs? Swan: Super Fran.. well detailed and sharp. TFS
John
*later

Hi Fran, lovely work. Whenever I see a black swan my thought immediately return to the state of my birth...the black swan is the state emblem there. Excellent POV, natural colour and good detail. TFS,
David

Many thanks for your comment on ‘Summer Fog III’

Hi Fran,

Excellent close-up of a beautiful black swan. Very good detail, nice composition and good exposure.
Well done!
Vassilis

Hi Fran,
First time that I see a black swan. Very sharp details and contrast betwee the red and the black.
TFS
Pierre

  • Great 
  • WTS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 269 W: 56 N: 269] (1401)
  • [2007-02-05 21:50]
  • [+]

just like Pierre siad this is something I have not seen before.
The POV is eye catching as you lookat the head then follow through to the rest.
I like the closeness noting the focal lenght on your camera, this adds to the sharpness in the detail of the neck feathers.

Wayne

Hi Fran :-)
Special Swan here , never knew there where realy black ones. TFS
Josine

Hi Fran,
I guess the nature photographer in me is always drawn to these type of shots first. Excellent exposure to get the great colors and detail in the black plumage. How can you not love that beak and red eyes!
Well done,
Scott

Hello Fran,
I've never seen a black swan before and it's very nice to view it the first time with this excellent photo showing it with great details, colors and sharpness.
Greetings.
Luc

A wink for this Swan. Nice shot Fran!
TC
Rob

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