# Whooper Swan **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** birds\ **Created:** [February 9, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975 "2019-02-09T18:54:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dave\_Douglass](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dave_douglass/32/5332_2.png) [@Dave\_Douglass](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dave_Douglass)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/1 "2019-02-09T18:54:28Z")
### What technical feedback would you like if any? Any and all ### What artistic feedback would you like if any? Any and all ### Any pertinent technical details: This is a non-native Whooper Swan taken at the local lake here with my D500, Nikon 2-500 lens, hand held, 1/4000th, ISO 3600, focal length 500, not cropped. ![Swan](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/2X/a/a648bd158ef35e9b2db443452a601111396c1ca8.jpeg) ##### **_You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques._** ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/2 "2019-02-09T21:58:28Z")
Hi Dave, I’m a sucker for reflections so I like what you have captured here. A peaceful mood to this image. I wish the swan’s head would have been turned so that we could see a catchlight in the eye and more light on the face. Nicely composed though. I think running noise reduction on the water/background would help. ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/3 "2019-02-09T23:22:00Z")
A nice reflection and a good job handling the brighter whites, Dave. An interesting species. Do you know if it was someone’s exotic or a natural vagrant? I agree with Allen’s suggestion on the noise in the background. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Douglass](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dave_douglass/32/5332_2.png) [@Dave\_Douglass](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dave_Douglass)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/4 "2019-02-10T00:07:04Z")
Dennis- Yes, there are a total of 4 of them that were bought and shipped here from some outfit in the midwest. I heard they were brought in to the lake area to discourage the Canadas from being down there crapping on everything but that did not happen. They peacefully coexist. I always like catching the swans on a glassy smooth lake surface for the reflections. d ![](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/2X/2/23c9186bb838c7dda955fb6896d36f9eb0d10d31.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 12:12am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/5 "2019-02-10T00:12:08Z")
Thanks for the response, @Dave_Douglass. Another plan foiled by mother nature. ---
**Author:** ![Lyle\_Gruby](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@Lyle\_Gruby](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Lyle_Gruby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/6 "2019-02-10T15:18:09Z")
I really like the moodiness here. In that way, I think the side/back-lighting helped. The entire image is pretty noisy, though. Looking at the techs, I’d assume this was underexposed? If you had time, I would’ve turned the ISO _way_ down. Def didnt need that much SS! ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Douglass](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dave_douglass/32/5332_2.png) [@Dave\_Douglass](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dave_Douglass)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/7 "2019-02-10T15:44:14Z")
I’m guilty of taking even hastily shot files and, if I like the subject well enough, going ahead and trying to milk a shot into something and my enemy is usually noise along with sharpness. I’m just finishing Steve Perry’s VERY informative e-book Secrets to Exposure and Metering for Nikon and it’s caused me to adjust my shooting techniques quite a bit, including the best way to shoot high contrast subject matter… like this shot taken last year. That plus the great advice I’m getting here is bound to improve my shooting abilities. Grasshopper ---
**Author:** ![Hans\_Overduin](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/hans_overduin/32/406_2.png) [@Hans\_Overduin](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Hans_Overduin)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/whooper-swan/3975/8 "2019-02-10T16:53:53Z")
Nice one, it has a certain calmness to it, which I love. Cheers, Hans