Things happen and sometimes get us off track. I realized that I haven’t been keeping up with my personal posts that I do on Wednesdays. So….I’ll make up for lost time.
Mather Lake is a small lake, and part of the Sacramento Regional Parks System, at the southern end of Sacramento. It’s a great place to photograph swans and other small wildlife like beavers, etc. So I said I’d go and crossed my fingers, hoping there would be swans more in the middle of the lake so I could capture them with my 300 mm lens.
Again, I will thank my friend Ray who made me a short monopod for my heavy lens. Wow, what a difference! We walked around the lake and I was happy. There were many Mute Swans, and some were by the shore! Here’s some of what I captured.
We didn’t see any other critters, but I was happy with these swans. I think they are so graceful in the water. On our way back to our cars, I spotted a juvenile swan. I looked it up and it was a juvenile. It was by itself so maybe it was mature enough to be on its own.
This is not my “Swan Song.” There will be more catching up posts, in addition to my regular LAPC weekly post, soon.
Slow Shutter Speed 
Lovely images.
Focal length of lens makes a lot of difference
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Thanks Philo! I was shooting with an old F/4 300 mm lens. My photo buddy Ray made me a short handheld monopod for that lens. It helped stabilize the camera and lens. Cropping in post was necessary.
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Thank you my friend for the details provided regarding aperture and focal length.
And monopod is a boon!
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nice catch up post and that closing photo was my fav – I could see it on a notebook or in a frame
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Thanks Prior! He was a surprise for sure.
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Lovely swan shots, especially capturing them in flight!
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Thanks Sarah! I’m working on catching birds in flight. I’m finding that using auto
ISO and a fast shutter helps.
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You also need quick reactions and good timing, which you clearly have!
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I’m chuckling because my reaction time is not good. In that split second you can lose a shot. I lose a lot of shots! šš
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Beautiful birds and photos! While I have seen many swans, I’ve never seen a juvenile swan. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Kathy! That juvenile was a pleasant surprise.
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They are such elegant birds. Beautiful images.
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Thanks Karina! I love to watch them swim, especially when they have their feathers up. They seem to glide through the water.
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Swans are great photo subject.
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They are beautiful as they glide through the water.
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