Elegant Visiter

For the past week or so there has been a Mute Swan hanging around in the marsh pond. At first we thought it might be injured and couldn’t fly but it seems to be in good shape and apparently likes the area and is happy to be picking at all the various vegetation found throughout the pond.

When we first arrived in the late afternoon I saw the swan floating in among the sparkling water which was created by the backlit sunshine. We then moved around to the other side to get some photos of the swan in more normal light. Two hours later, as we were leaving, I stopped to grab a shot with the swan silhouetted by the warm light of the now setting sun.

61 thoughts on “Elegant Visiter”

Littlesundog on March 29, 2013 at 2:20 pm said:

Absolutely stunning Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Lsd, I appreciate it!
  
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The Wanderlust Gene on March 29, 2013 at 2:35 pm said:

Oh wow, Phi; .. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:22 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks! 😀
  
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meintagesablauf on March 29, 2013 at 2:36 pm said:

Great, Beautiful.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:22 pm said:
  
  So glad you like these!
  
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Maggie Davey on March 29, 2013 at 2:40 pm said:

Phil, I love all your pictures but I can’t find words to describe these – glorious just doesn’t cut it! If I am right, this beauty still appears to have traces of juvenile feathers, so could this be a young bird looking for its own territory?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:24 pm said:
  
  Thank you Maggie I greatly appreciate your kind words!
  I do believe this is a juvie and could indeed be looking to stake out some territory and possibly attract a mate.
  
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theforagingphotographer on March 29, 2013 at 2:51 pm said:

Phil these are astonishing. Normally your pictures are of critters we’re not familiar with over here in the UK, but the mute swan is one of our ‘everyday’ and much-photographed birds. Still I haven’t seen many pictures of them that could hold a candle to these. You’re a talented man! Absolutely beautiful shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:26 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Lucy you are so kind!
  Yes I basically consider the swans a ‘backyard’ bird (and we have had them in out back yard) and don’t normally photograph them. But I figured since it was going to go through the trouble of coming to the marsh and competing with all the other usual residents I would give it some well deserved screen time. 🙂
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on March 29, 2013 at 3:12 pm said:

Gorgeous photos! I especially love the first one…looks like the swan is swimming in a sea of glitter!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:27 pm said:
  
  Well I know who likes glitter! 😀
  Thanks Megan!
  
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davidharris518 on March 29, 2013 at 3:19 pm said:

Beautiful images Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much David I appreciate it,
  
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Andrew on March 29, 2013 at 3:23 pm said:

The pictures just get better and better, Phil. I hope you frame the last one and hang it on the wall.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:28 pm said:
  
  Thank you Andrew, so glad you like these! I’m going to consider hanging that last one. 🙂
  
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annethroop on March 29, 2013 at 3:49 pm said:

Super nice!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:28 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks for stopping by and commenting! Glad you enjoyed these pics!
  
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LyndaMichele on March 29, 2013 at 3:52 pm said:

So beautiful! I love the one with the setting sun and sparkling water 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:29 pm said:
  
  Well I’m happy you liked the photos and I appreciate the kind comments! I like the sparkling water too, that was the first one I took. 🙂
  
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Judy on March 29, 2013 at 4:27 pm said:

Interesting to watch it preening while floating. Lovely.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:30 pm said:
  
  It was interesting watching it float along and preen. It was fairly windy so it didn’t have to paddle it could just let the wind slowly move it around.
  
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Chillbrook on March 29, 2013 at 4:44 pm said:

Beautiful Phil. Apparently the Queen owns all the swans in the UK. Not quite sure how that works but they certainly have a very regal air about them done they?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:31 pm said:
  
  I’ll bet the food bill must be rather high to maintain the entire flock Adrian. 🙂
  They do indeed look quite regal.
  
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Amy on March 29, 2013 at 4:49 pm said:

Beyond words…

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:32 pm said:
  
  Wow thanks so much Amy!
  
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Gunta on March 29, 2013 at 5:01 pm said:

I agree with Amy. Every single image in this series is way beyond any superlatives I can come up with.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:32 pm said:
  
  Thanks Gunta, I really appreciate that! 🙂
  
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Maggie Davey on March 29, 2013 at 5:38 pm said:

An answer for Chilbrook – our Queen does indeed technically own all mute swans in open water, under a law dating from the 12th century, when swans were a dish eaten by royalty. However, that right is only exercised on part of the river Thames, where there is an annual ceremony called Swan Upping, where all unmarked swans in the area are caught and ringed, before being released again. Hope this helps. Sorry for taking up time on your blog, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 29, 2013 at 5:54 pm said:
  
  Thanks Maggie, I’m happy you posted this information. 🙂
  
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pixelspielerei on March 29, 2013 at 6:01 pm said:

Stunning nice pictures, Phil! So fantastic! ☺

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- Phil Lanoue on March 30, 2013 at 1:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much!
  
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janmasyn on March 29, 2013 at 6:16 pm said:

Great shots Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 30, 2013 at 1:20 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking these out Jan.
  
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einfachtilda on March 29, 2013 at 6:38 pm said:

Ganz wundervoll lieber Phil und frohe Ostern.

LG Mathilda 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on March 30, 2013 at 1:22 pm said:
  
  Danke Mathilda und Happy Easter to you!
  
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Mickey Moten on March 29, 2013 at 7:13 pm said:

Hey Phil,
You’ve taken something quite common and made it exceptional! Very nice set of photos… as several others have already suggested. In my opinion, that last one is definitely “frame-worthy”. As always, thanks for sharing your talents with us all!
Have a great weekend, Phil!
Take care,
Mick

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- Phil Lanoue on March 30, 2013 at 1:23 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million Mick I really appreciate you looking and commenting!
  Yes indeed I basically consider swans backyard birds but since this one was in the marsh I figured I would try for some different looks.
  Cheers
  Phil
  
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Beverly on March 29, 2013 at 8:17 pm said:

Phil~
Love the pictures of the swan. I see it when I cross the causeway to go to work in the giftshop. By studying your photos, I am learning all the different birds that love our park as much as we do!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 30, 2013 at 1:24 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much Beverly, I appreciate your kind comments!
  
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mariayarri on March 30, 2013 at 5:29 am said:

So, so beautiful … I hope that i sometime can get such stunning photos as you have of this mute Swan . They always come to a little lake near where i live … And then i usually visit them and their kids … // Maria

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- Phil Lanoue on March 30, 2013 at 1:24 pm said:
  
  I am happy you like these swan photos Maria! They are a common bird but I tried to come up with different views. 🙂
  
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norasphotos4u on March 30, 2013 at 4:58 pm said:

Beautiful. Love the third one where it has enveloped itself in it’s wings

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- Phil Lanoue on March 31, 2013 at 5:26 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much! That one is a favorite of mine as well!
  
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adinparadise on March 31, 2013 at 1:30 am said:

Elegant is definitely the right word,Phil. Stunningly beautiful swan pics. Your photos just get better and better. I’m in awe. Love the one where the swan appears to be taking a nap. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 31, 2013 at 5:27 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for your very kind words Sylvia and I’m so happy you enjoyed these swan pics.
  It does look particularly cute in the ‘nap’ photo. 😀
  
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Bella Remy Photography on March 31, 2013 at 10:34 am said:

The first image is diamonds and a swan – WOW, then moved on the snowball of a swan. Super wow..then a Golden sunset swan. Triple wow ! Fabulous series Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 31, 2013 at 5:27 pm said:
  
  Well I greatly appreciate your very kind comments Emily thanks much!
  
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lylekrahn on March 31, 2013 at 11:12 pm said:

So many great poses.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 1, 2013 at 2:57 pm said:
  
  Thanks, appreciate it.
  
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FeyGirl on March 31, 2013 at 11:36 pm said:

Wow… what beautiful portraits. I’m especially captivated by her curled up into herself….

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- Phil Lanoue on April 1, 2013 at 2:57 pm said:
  
  Thanks, that one is a fave of mine as well!
  
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Fergiemoto on April 1, 2013 at 11:28 pm said:

Those are stunning! She looks like she is enjoying posing for the camera! I especially like the third photo.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 3, 2013 at 10:10 am said:
  
  She does look like she is having a good time out there!
  Thanks very much for your kind words!
  
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suburbanferndaleark on April 10, 2013 at 9:39 pm said:

Love that silhouette shot with the sunshine sparkles!

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theamateurcamera on April 30, 2013 at 9:01 pm said:

Absolutely breathtaking! All of them fantastic shots but I have to say the one of her looking like she’s taking a nap is so beautiful & my favourite. Stunning… 🙂

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choppy123 on May 10, 2013 at 7:31 pm said:

Absolutely love the picture third one down from the top 🙂

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Jules Karney on January 24, 2014 at 12:42 pm said:

Beautiful work. What kind of camera, speed, iso etc.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 24, 2014 at 2:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks for the kind words.
  I use a Canon 7D usually with a 300 lens and try to shoot at 200 ISO if light allows.
  
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Jules Karney on January 24, 2014 at 12:42 pm said:

I would like to see your indoor basketball shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 24, 2014 at 2:04 pm said:
  
  My days of shooting indoor basketball are over and I don’t miss it much. I used to have to set up lighting for anything other then pro bktb.
  
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