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Taxi Ride II (for Gert)


Taxi Ride II (for Gert)
Photo Information
Copyright: Jean Michel Peers (JeanMichel) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 633 W: 87 N: 938] (2864)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06-04
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF100-400 F4.5-5.6L IS, Digital ISO 400, Hoya HMC UV(0)
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Swans, Baby Animals 1, Family Matters 1, Dedications to Gert [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-06-06 8:57
Viewed: 4628
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This subject was placed highest on my wish list, since Gert's cute Taxi Ride. I knew swans had the same parenting habit than Gert's great crested grebe, so I started by locating three swans nests visible from the shore, on different locations of the Seine river. Afterwards, it's just a question coming regularly to observe, and lot's of luck. Mute swans (Cygnus Olor) are widespread in Europe. You'll find a comprehensive note in a previous post here
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OBSERVATION AND PHOTOGRAPHIC FACTS
The worst time of the day (before noon) with a cloudy sky and a flat harsh light reflecting in the water. This female, followed by 5 babies was at 3 meters of the bank, grazing on aquatic vegetation. The Seine is large on that spot. It's the main arm, with a heavy traffic of barges. Their nest was on a little island in the middle of the arm, secured from predators. To come on the shore, they had to cross (5 minutes)
I observed their peregrination for more than one hour sitting on the bank, or moving up and down the shore, awaiting the right moment. A few barges navigated up and down on the river, creating long waves. At a moment, a first baby climbed from the back, then a second one, and so on. I started to take some shots. They seemed to need a rest, because the two first ones, once installed, closed immediately their eyes. When the mother went away from the bank, the last climbed also. It was clear that this was done for crossing the river and come back close to the nest on the island, where the male was waiting. This was the last shot before the swan turned her back. Arrived close to the island, the mother ejected the five babies (see how on the enclosed workshop).
It has been thrilling to watch. Hope I made you share this moment also.
Shot and adjusted in RAW mode on DPP. Converted to JPEG, USM sharpening in PSE (85-0,6-0). Resized and framed.
red45, manyee, annagrace, sAner, PDP, TAZ, gerhardt, glazzaro, Janice, Luc, ellis49 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-06-06 9:34]

Very good capture Jean Michel! I remember original photo from Gert also. Your is also very good. Superb moment, very cute scene. It is well seen how proud is it swan :-)

Great picture, Jean Michel. The cute factor is very high.
Thanks, I love it. You catch a great moment.
Your picture is sharper than mine. Well composed, and nice colours.
Excellen work.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2005-06-06 10:44]

Awww... That is precious, Jean Michel. Great composition and capture of the moment. Good exposure and details. TFS. : )

Bonjour Jean Michel!
C'est une familletres interesante et tres belle. J'aime cet image miellé :-)

Great capture and well worth the wait! That is such a sweet scene with the babies stealing a free ride from mommy.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-06-06 13:07]

Hello Jean Michel,

This is a fantastic shot and a beautiful tribute to Gert. Exposure is spot on, composition is very good and so is POV. Details are great too. Very, very cute. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

hello:) beauty shot:) exellent colours:) and DOF:) great one:)

Małgosia

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-06-06 15:11]

Great capture! What a life to get a piggy-back ride like this. Lovley shot Jean-Michel and thanks for bringing a smile to my face, well done.

Love Swans and this is just too precious !! I have never seen them do this , but where we are, there are no strong currents, it is all little streams and ponds.

Well done on the lovely shot!
Elize

Hello Jean Michel

Wonderful image. I had never seen anything like this before until I saw Gerts shot. Very high on the cute scale. Your patience paid off nicely. Thanks.

Very good work Jean, great moment!

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-06-08 3:29]

Belle et attendrissante composition photographique pour cette petite famille de cygnes. Bon point de vue et bonne netteté. Compliments Jean-Michel !

It does bring back the memories of Gert's shot. :) This is a great capture of these sleeping beauties. I think I should put this on my wishlist now. :) Very well done, Jean Michel. Great shot.

Good clean shot, detail and environment are optimal, well taken shot.

Greg

Jean Michel, no doubt this is a very fine moment. Everyone who likes to take wildlife shots would like to get a photo like this.

I like composition and pov. A delicate and touching picture.

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-06-10 4:47]

Well your patience paid off Jean Michel, An absolutely brilliant shot. And look at them preening themselves too while mu takes them sightseeing. Wonderful capture, just beautiful.

Très mignon cette image, dommage pour le manque de lumière, mais sinon c'est une belle réussite

Amicalement,

Vincent

  • Great 
  • twin Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 244 W: 17 N: 494] (3259)
  • [2005-06-14 14:07]

really so nice capture...
great composition...
I love it...
thanks a lot for sharing this attractive pic...

This is a very exciting image, Jean Michel. I love the fuzzy warmth it exhudes! You might try this, however, since it seems slightly hazy to me. In Photoshop, use Unsharp Mask with a very high pixel radius and a low percentage to deepen the tones and, perhaps, add some clarity. I'm just nit-picking I know, but what a marvelous capture.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-06-26 20:41]

Hello Jean-Michel!
Personal assessment of the photo: very good. A rare moment very well captured.
Good visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excellent.
Personal assessment of the note: complete.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Have a great week!

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