The Setting Sunlight

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 7, 2011662 views33 comments

As the sun was setting behind me this group of Tundra Swans took off from a small lake and headed for the Mississippi River. Instead of making the shot with my tripod mounted camera and long lens I decided to go for a wider view with my other camera. I enjoyed the setting sunlight on the trees and how it highlighted the swans. I had a lower iso set on this camera and knew the exposure would be long at f/16, but thought it could be interesting.
50D, 24mm, iso 200, f/16, 1 sec exp and hand held.
Hope the landscape gallery is ok for this image. kind of a landscape with birds in it I guess.

Comments

33 comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on November 7, 2011 at 5:20 PM

It is a lovely shot, Nick. The blur of motion in their wings is enough to give artistic blur and yet they are clearly identifyable. Glad you got the shot.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 7, 2011 at 5:33 PM

Thanks Charlie! This was just kind of a fun shot to make and interesting to see how it turned out. I do enjoy looking at it, but probably won't go any farther with it than posting it here. Always appreciate your comments. Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Mosquin on November 7, 2011 at 5:58 PM

I really like it -- I suppose if I had a critique, it would be that I wish for a little bit more of background space on the left side of the image, so that the leftmost swan's wing isn't touching the edge of the frame. But -- that space was probably there when you hit the shutter button, disappeared within the 1 second exposure.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 24 Posts, 122 Comments

Comment posted by Bruce King on November 7, 2011 at 6:11 PM

I'm really enjoying this image Nick. I suppose sharper details in the bg would be my suggestion but I think the motion of the birds is captivating enough the the bg is hardly a consideration. I think if the birds were a little higher in the frame with the brighter bg and less contrast the image just wouldn't have the same impact. Well done.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Jeffrey Sipress on November 7, 2011 at 6:25 PM

Very nice landscape/habitat image. We don't see enough of these here. Wonderful!

Registered on February 17, 2004, 236 Posts, 1197 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on November 7, 2011 at 6:55 PM

Very nice, Nick, love the blur in the wings, well done.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on November 7, 2011 at 7:38 PM

Nick: This is really, really unique. It looks like art.

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 7, 2011 at 8:47 PM

Thanks guys for the comments so far. I was hoping that you would enjoy it. Daniel, I did have a little more room on the left side but when I added this border it seemed to come in farther than I expected, so I agree a little more room there is better.
The original shot had a little more room on the bottom but it didn't seem to add anything to the image so I did do a crop there. Thanks to all of you for the thoughts. Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on November 7, 2011 at 8:55 PM

Perfectly captured Nick. While I like the splashes of colour, I wonder if this might work in B&W also.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 7, 2011 at 9:11 PM

Thanks Kah Kit, I never really thought about a b/w version but it sounded interesting to me. Here is a rather high key bw version. Thanks, Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on November 7, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Nothing better than critters in a landscape! Combining colorful backlit trees with the geese, AND capturing the motion with the perfect shutter speed make this even better. (B&W is nice, too, but I already got hooked on the color version.)

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on November 8, 2011 at 12:07 AM

Creative

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on November 8, 2011 at 1:07 AM

Love it! Very creative, indeed. The light is marvelous, too. Well done.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on November 8, 2011 at 2:38 AM

Cool! I much prefer the color, those warm highlites on the birds are killer. Wish there was a tad more clarity in the bg, but hey you can't have everything...

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on November 8, 2011 at 4:15 AM

An outstanding photograph, Nick.

My preference is for the color version, although the b&w is beautiful too.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on November 8, 2011 at 8:04 AM

I love it, Nick! Very creative and commendable for "thinking on your feet". The light could not be more beautiful.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Koepsel on November 8, 2011 at 9:20 AM

The blurred wing motion highlighted in the sun is what makes this image to me. The light off their bellies also draws the eye to the swans. They may be set off more if the background was sharper, though, but still a very captivating image with the swans and colored brushtops behind.

Registered on April 1, 2010, 196 Posts, 1592 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on November 8, 2011 at 9:37 AM

Love the warm light on the trees and reflecting off the wings. Also really lke the blur - gives a nice sense of motion. Nicely done.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM

Very cool image, Nick. A great abstract wildscape.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on November 8, 2011 at 11:58 AM

Fantastic motion and color Nick. Wonderful lighting as well.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on November 8, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Nice catch - the shutter speed works perfectly here. The warm light under the birds really ties them into the rest of the landscape.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on November 8, 2011 at 4:45 PM

Great capture of the motion to me, Nick. I especially enjoy the elegance of the wings. The colors underline the dynamics well for me.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Nathan Buck on November 8, 2011 at 5:10 PM

This is innovative and VERY cool Nick. Wonderful photo - I love the light and motion.

Nathan

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1101 Posts, 13589 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 8, 2011 at 7:54 PM

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts on this. For me it was a fun shot to make, and I do enjoy it because it was alot different than most of my swan images. I really appreciate all of your comments!
I'm leaving for the north shore of Lake Superior tomorrow morning and will check back in at the end of this week. Thanks! Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on November 8, 2011 at 9:12 PM

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Smith on November 8, 2011 at 9:38 PM

The immaculate timing...perfection ...love the swans just below the colors..yet in sun too. Wow. And the blur works...this time. Normally, I would want more feather and detail...but, this show of the swans in such motion and action...sweet...like an escape from the burning forest. Terrific shot! Ken S

Registered on September 5, 2008, 449 Posts, 2444 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on November 8, 2011 at 9:55 PM

Love the motion blur. Reminds me of some of Tim Fitzharris's work.

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on November 9, 2011 at 12:19 AM

Awesome! Love it.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Kedar Bhat on November 9, 2011 at 2:15 AM

good choice of exposure... lovely picture !

Registered on April 7, 2008, 77 Posts, 357 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on November 9, 2011 at 9:06 AM

Neat! What a great take on fall color.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Reed Bowman on November 9, 2011 at 12:03 PM

dramatic!

Registered on March 2, 2009, 166 Posts, 1058 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on November 9, 2011 at 12:16 PM

Stunning, Nick. Really, really nice

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on November 11, 2011 at 7:36 PM

Thanks so much for all of your comments. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and feelings on this. Nick

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments