Camera: NIKON D3S
Shutter: 1/2000 s
Aperture: f/4
Exposure Setting: Manual
ISO: 400
Strobe Flash: Did Not Fire
Lens Focal Length: 300 mm
White Balance: Auto
Shooter's Comments:
This morning on my way into work, I caught this swan swimming away from me through mist on the creek. The sun was streaming through on the opposite side, so I just had to pull over.
I grabbed a camera body with a 70-200 mm lens and worked on some angles, just following the light. The swan was out of my range at this point, so I focused on the mist and some ducks.
What was really neat was that I could get two completely different feels shooting into and away from the sun. I experimented and played a little. I didn't stay too long because I was running late to work.
I did what I could with the 70-200 mm lens, it allowed me to include the environment, but, I went back to the car for the 300mm lens. On my way back the swan swam past me and into the sun. I shot some and noticed that under the bridge there was this mix of light from both of the extremes. The swan turned around again and headed back to swim under the bridge. I waited and started shooting. He stopped and dipped his/her head into the water which you see above.
I love everything about this photo, from the light, the smoothness of the water and of course this crazy shape of the headless swan that reflects back. My eye just dances around this frame and I'm happy I stopped.
- Swikar Patel, Photojournalist
