No Ugly Duckling

[John 2]

Taken yesterday (despite what the METADATA says) at our local reserve. It's been PP'd and I can't claim any originality of treatment. It's been done before but I thought the image would suit it. C&C always welcome.

Nikon D7100
70-300mm Nikkor @ 300mm
1/800th Sec @f 6.3 ISO 100

[Digital]

This is a nice photo. My only criticism is I would have allowed the swan more room on the right to "swim" into.


Bruce

[John 2]

Thanks Bruce. I know that is the normal wisdom and you are not wrong but I wanted the wake to act as a lead in and thought that the fact that the swan was in effect looking back into the frame was strong enough to hold the viewer's attention. You have to try these things.

[Geoff F]

Possibly a slight crop from the left and top would still retain sufficient wake but appear to make the swan relatively closer to the left side?

Exposure and focus are good; always a tricky subject.

[Mike Buckley]

I wanted the wake to act as a lead in and thought that the fact that the swan was in effect looking back into the frame was strong enough to hold the viewer's attention.

That's exactly why this image works for me exactly as is.

I think it's fair to say that the bird is probably not a duckling but I'm absolutely positive that there is nothing ugly about the photo or the bird. Well done!

[Brownbear]

A truly beautiful image...

[John 2]

Thanks for the comment Geoff. I wouldn't want to crop the top (I don't think - might be interesting?) because it would move the swan upwards to the CL but there is scope to crop the LHS. It's a bit long and narrow.

Thanks Mike. No it's a swan but the title was a slight homage to Hans Christian Anderson/Danny Kay.

Thanks Christina. Glad you liked it.

[Mike Buckley]

I had completely forgotten about Danny Kay's association with the Ugly Duckling. Thanks for the reminder!

[terrib]

I really like this photo. And I think it works despite breaking "the rules". I like the wake and how the angles of the wings/reflections are mimicked by the angles of the wake so I think it really adds to the composition. I just did a presentation to our neighborhood photo club (mostly beginners) and told them about the rules but then I also told them to break them with a purpose. I think you've done that and it works!

[teokf]

I like the image, especially the wake following behind it.

[Wavelength]

At the first look i had the same feeling as in the first post....but when i kept on looking at the image i too had the same feeling as the OP(both before reading these messages, i must say). i found the swan enjoying the track it has created by looking behind; so it is well composed or happened to be that way
A perfect wall hanger

[John 2]

You're welcome Mike. I'm just going through my second childhood.

Thanks Terri. That was what I was hoping for but you need others to confirm that you have succeeded.

Glad you liked it Steven.

Thanks Nandakumar. It was a deliberate composition but as I said in the initial post, I had seen something similar before and so the idea was not entirely original.