Muted Love

[BlackRockArt]

The muted swan is not a native species in California, often hated by the local birders due to their aggressiveness, predatory behavior in the habitat. Even so, people still love it.

I got up around 3:30am to drive two hours to Sacramento to where the birds reside; these birds are so elegant in the courtship rituals.

Enjoy.

Oliver

 

[AlanLichty]

Wow - perfect pose for a Valentine's Card. Nice.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Wow - perfect pose for a Valentine's Card. Nice.

Thanks, Alan.

I found once the sun came out, the swans are over-exposed. I shall try using CPL next time.

Oliver

 

[Ben Egbert]

Swans are really graceful birds.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Hallmark needs to sign you to a contract. Great Valentine's Day card

 

[JimFox]

Perfect Oliver! You did it and it didn't even take CGI.

I have seen images like these and wistfully thought it would be so cool to capture it, and here you did it!

How many different pairs of birds did you see do this?

 

[BlackRockArt]

Perfect Oliver! You did it and it didn't even take CGI.

I have seen images like these and wistfully thought it would be so cool to capture it, and here you did it!

How many different pairs of birds did you see do this?

Jim, thanks ! It was taken at Mather lake just outside Sacramento, right now it's the mating season, the mute swans are fairly active; I counted 4~5 pairs putting on the courting rituals, simply beautiful to look at.

Oliver

 

[Joe Colozzo]

perfect pose and great shot.