Introduction


I have always been interested in nature and recently purchased an DSLR camera and various lenses with a view to recording what I see.

There are many stock photographs of excellant quality available on various websites. These are good for identification but my interest lies beyond this. I like to add the dimension of a story. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words but a picture alone allows you to admire the beauty of the subject without conveying much more information.

There is usually a reason for taking an image and sometimes a number of sequential images can be used to describe the subject's behaviour which a single image cannot always achieve.

I hope that within this blog I can show you what I mean. My images are not among the best to be found but they were the best I could achieve at the time and I am always seeking to improve the quality as my experience grows.


Wednesday, 28 May 2008

The Swan family at Southmoor

Southmoor is located on the edge of Langstone harbour. It is located within the bounds of the harbour, streams to each side and the Havant bypass.

The swans have taken up residence in the stream adjacent to Mill Lane. The Mill (West Mill) is now a private residence but still has the mill stream flowing through the property. The stream passes under a bridge and joins two others before flowing out into the harbour. The whole of this section of the stream is tidal.

The swans can regularly be seen in the stream and its estuary.

This pair of swans have 7 cygnets and I first spotted them as a family 7th May 2008. Its quite a large brood and its expected that not all of them will survive. The shots below are my first record of them.

1/1250s @ f9, ISO 400, fl 91mm

Olympus E3 + Sigma 50-500mm

Aperture Priority


1/1000s @f9, ISO 400, fl 313mm

Olympus E3 + Sigma 50-500

Aperture Priority



Photo call over, the swans take their cygnets down the stream to Langstone Bay.





1/800 @ f9, ISO 400, fl 107mm

Olympus E3 + Sigma 50-500

Aperture Priority



Met up with the Swans again on 25th May 2008. The tide was in again and the swans were at the estuary. It was time to show the cygnets how to feed and the female shows the water weed she has pulled out of the stream bed whilst the male chats to the cygnets. See how attentive they are. Just as if they at school.


1/4000s @ f9, ISO 400, fl 300mm

Olympus E500 + Zuiko 70-300mm

Aperture Priority


You may recall from above, I had expected that the family size would have been reduced by now. Thankfully all 7 cygnets were still present.


They had enough and once again swam off.



1/1600 @ f9, ISO 400, fl 141mm

Olympus E500 + Zuiko 70-300

Aperture Priority


Best regards

PeterD

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