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A family story
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:07 pm    Post subject: A family story Reply with quote
It was not my intention from the start, but I realized when going through my older captures, that I have been following the progress af a swan family throughout this season. At least I think it is the same family, can't be 100 percent sure of course.
Not sure about all the lenses, but it's all MF.

Cygnet production. She has five eggs in the nest. Apparently the process takes a bit more than a month. The lens is probably the Pentacon 4/200


A first glance at the cygnets. They are not more than a couple of days old.
Vivitar 5.6/300 is my best guess for this one.



Same occasion, same lens, and a touch of CA on the wing.



A week later. First time I saw them in the water.
Vivitar again. Missed the focus a bit on this one.



Another week gone by.
Probably Nikon 4/200



Yet a week later. Not sure if it is obvious but they grow quite quickly. This is probably still a dangerous time for the cygnets with all the birds of prey circleing the lake.
This must have been the Nikkor 4/200.



A month jump into August now. All five are still around.
This was the Vivitar again.



Another big leap in time. This shot is only a week old. The have started their transition from ugly duckligs to mature swans.
This one is taken with the 3.5/135 Sonnar



They are quite curious. The lake is a popular place for picnicks so mabe they are a bit used to being fed.



This one I took today with my newly bought Nikkor 2.8/135. If the current sub zero temperature prevails, the lake will freeze over in a week. The swans don't tend to stick around for the pleasure of walking on the ice, so this may be the last I see of them this year.


Last edited by Sven on Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:13 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
great series! interesting & superb pics


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Realy good story!!


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Such a beautiful story ! Great, great pictures!


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks a lot guys!

The mute swan is by no means a rare bird here, but following these guys has still been fascinating.
I had now idea how many cygnets were brought up by a single couple, and how many that actually made it all the way from from egg to mature bird.
Their size suits my lens collection as well. Sparrows are more difficult.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Really fun series/story. Nice collection of lenses and great shots. Thank you


patrickh


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
A very nice series. The young swans definitely look like they've got enough meat and fat on them now to be able to handle the migration to warmer climes. I'm assuming that swans migrate like ducks and geese?


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
cooltouch wrote:
A very nice series. The young swans definitely look like they've got enough meat and fat on them now to be able to handle the migration to warmer climes. I'm assuming that swans migrate like ducks and geese?


Thanks!
From this part of Sweden they normally migrate. But it might not be further away than Denmark, Germany or even the south of Sweden.
I think their main objective is to find open water and they travel just a as far as needed to aceive that.
Having said that, I'm not really a bird expert. I just seem to get them in my view finder from time to time.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
great series sven. love the sharpness of the beaks in 2!


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
rbelyell wrote:
great series sven. love the sharpness of the beaks in 2!


Thanks!
I seem to have got that one right, and perhaps with the least capable lens. With long telephoto lenses there is more than just the the sharpness of the lens at play. Getting enough light to avoid camera shake or noise from high ISO, hitting the right focus point are two vital factors as well.
I'm not always succesful there, especially since I seldom bring a tripod.
Wouldn'd mind a telephoto Nikkor with image stabilisation, but they don't come cheap.


PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Marvellous series I love swans Very Happy such noble birds


PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Poolhall wrote:
Marvellous series I love swans Very Happy such noble birds


Thanks!
They are quite impressive. I read somewhere on the internet that they are among the heaviest birds that can fly.


PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Fantastic! It's always difficult to nail the focus on swans, they can become quite agressive up close as well!

Were there still five around at the end though? Sad


PostPosted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Shrek wrote:
Fantastic! It's always difficult to nail the focus on swans, they can become quite agressive up close as well!

Were there still five around at the end though? Sad


Thanks!
They tend to be even more on edge when I bring the dogs along. Even though it has it's disadvantages I normally combine dog- and photography walks. I wouldn't want to use less than 135 focal lenght.

And yes, all five are still present. The fifth guy was minding his own business outside the viewfinder.
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