Nightski

Feathers blowing in the wind ...

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10MPlayer Loc: California

Very nice shot. With his feathers blowing in the wind it almost looks like a person tucking their hands under their armpits to keep them warm. It really gives the feeling of coldness. Bringing out feelings is the point of a good photo in my book. We have those birds passing thru in my part of the world. I knew they were swans but wasn't aware they were trumpeter swans. Their heads have that brown color that I assumed was from rooting around in the muck and mud where they feed. Do you know it that's true or do they have brown pigment in their feathers on the head? Just wondering.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

Spherochromatism........

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I think this is a very good example of monotone imaging. It has depth and sharpness. The bird posed beautifully - almost perfectly, I'd say.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Yes, trumpeters have some amount of melanin (black) and pheomelanin (brown to tan) pigment. It is more general in the plumage of juveniles , but is limited to the head and upper neck in full adults. It's amount varies from barely perceptible to that demonstrated in your image.

However, some "brownish" coloration of the head can, indeed, be the result of "mucking about" in the shallows, as 10Mplayer suggests.

Indeed, there is sufficient geographic variation in "muck minerals" that chemical analysis of the discolored plumage so-soiled has been used to identify the region "up north" from which migrants to the south originated. I'm not aware of this being applied to swans, but it was the basis of fairly extensive studies done on migrating snow geese some thirty-five or more years ago.

And yes, as Rob notes, there is some CA evident, especially at the margins of the bill.

edit:
I like the pose and can feel the wind.


Dave

Nightski

If you'd like to buy me a lens that doesn't suffer from amateur telescope optics Winter, I'd gladly accept it.

Nightski

Damn, I forgot to click that CA box! Yep .. it was cold. Bitterly cold. That's the best time for shooting swans. Our swans do have that brownish colouring on head and necks. Some more than others.

Nightski

and Dave ... get a load of those rubber legs. I often admire these birds as they glide around in the icy waters. This spot is open all the time no matter how cold it gets. I've seen the swans there many times when it's 20 below. Getting a close up of the feet like this shows how well built they are.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

The Lens Correction filter in Photoshop does a pretty good job on the C/A; consider that the shot would probably have benefited from a touch less exposure; I would be pleased to buy you a lesser suffering optic but I can't afford it.....perhaps if I sold one of the Ferraris.......

Nightski

Ferraris are overrated

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

You're probably right but they both look rather good together there on the second shelf of the display cabinet.

Friends say that the contrasting color nicely complements my extensive collection of little rubber ducks......