Swan Lake

I'm very happy find that this shot was selected among 19 others for the Flickr 333 benefit auction. The proceeds will go to Kids with Cameras. Well done to everyone that took part!

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Comments

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(186 comments)

pmsmgomes says:

I think this is great and at the same time a lower and a wider angle would make it more "correct".
But I like this one for the lighting and the details of the closer swan.
(1-2-3)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Mervin Lei says:

very funny. reminds me of the aflac commercials
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

A.p.K says:

love the perspective, very surprising and funny shot!

1-2-3
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

traiecto says:

hahaha.. really funny picture.. luv it (not really looking at the overall composition, he cut-off castle bothers me a bit, but the swan's head just popping out makes it so comical and just does it for me..

I found this photo in 1-2-3
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

smita.love says:

swan #1: "Boink!" (or, the sound of beak hitting glass)

swan #2: "See? I told you it was a real Canon EOS 350D Digital. Pay up!"
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Keith Marshall says:

What a great picture! I agree with everyone that it would have been even better with the whole castle but it really doesn't matter all that much - the focus is on the swan - great wide angle! (1-2-3)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

danielguip says:

Great...

(1-2-3 group)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

mossko says:

Racing swans!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

* sharon - sparkles * says:

This is fantastic! :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

ibarak says:

amazing, a perfect animal shot
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

tommy martin says:

Cool. I agree with traiecto, the composition makes it a really good comedy shot :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

kimbar says:

Is this Leeds? Oh, I see that it is. Very funny, where are the black ones?
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

let's fotografar says:

Quack quack...
Great PORTRAIT!!!
Too close!!!!!!
:)))
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Life in the Pumpkin Shell says:

I love it! Please add this to Phenomenal Photos
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

glindsay65 says:

Made me smile.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

smallchih says:

This is the most interesting and creative shot of swan I have ever seen.
Nice job!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

thecosas says:

"back up off my grill"
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

GooseGoddessS says:

(with a snooty accent)
"Excuse me...Hhhave you by Cha'nce, any Grey Poupon???..."..haha
Lovely Capture, and the background makes it all that more intriguing!
:)

A Big Fave
Please add this to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Co®tex™ says:

woooooooooooow!!! amazing..FAV
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

DesertNana aka majamom says:

REALLY FANTASTIC!

Caption Suggestion-

"Just follow me Dear." I ASKED for directions."

=)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Viche says:

Wonderful perspective! I love the clarity of that beak. (And congratulations for being featured on the flickrblog.)
--
Seen in my contacts's photos. (?)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Krowster says:

Very cool -
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

kamanriderv3 says:

Good!!!! So cute~
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

simpologist says:

Thanks for all the comments everyone, and to Heather for featuring the shot in the blog, wow!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

andyp uk says:

Absolutely great image, well done.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

ThatClaw says:

very creative! looks like it's intruding on a (boring) shot of the castle.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

SmALl CloUd ... says:

Splendid shots, the swan in front looks so 'fake'
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

blynaffit says:

I have no suggestions for a caption, but I absolutely love the swan in the front
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Gertrud K. says:

Totally fancy photo!

--
Seen on Flickr Blog. (?)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Redbulbul says:

Cool!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

GoFlatOut says:

Aflac!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

pierofix says:

Lovely!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

SendakSeuss says:

brilliant.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Legally Bold says:

excellent !
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Gauri V says:

nice one!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

inge vandamme says:

Super picture!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

jenandben2004 says:

"Can I eat you camera?" This is a great shot - and way to go because birds kinda scare me and I don't think I would have wanted to be as close as you appear to be!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

hermanwest says:

duck's head filling with full of questions :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

sadalit says:

It's so nice! Saw on the FlickrBlog page & had to click in.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

starscomeout7 says:

Saw this on front page of Explore and couldn't stop laughing - great capture!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Cl0de says:

wonderful!It's really brilliant!!!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

wans2pics says:

I love your photos. Please come and join us at www.flickr.com/groups/money_shot/
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

jimmah_v says:

unique and so very good
_
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Cristiane Sousa says:

Great perpective!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

*Mahonia. says:

Very creative! Wonderful perspective! I love it!!!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

kately1 says:

i don't agree with the people above who are snarking about the composition -- the cut off castle and swan create a nice tension that lends to the humor and charm! great photo. :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Bigbird3 says:

Fabulous capture - I love it

Seen on Explore
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Bellaclaire says:

Fantastic - instant favourite!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

snd1 says:

Great! Nice composition!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

mattjsaw says:

Love it!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

shellorz says:

Unique picture. That's a great composition and a truly comic scene. The only reason I can think of why not everybody would love it is that they haven't seen it yet.
I wonder what you bribed them with, old bread ?
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Mylens* says:

this makes me laugh.
Splendid.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

pfflyers1 says:

cool
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

acastellano says:

Brilliant! Perfect composition. Congrats (seen on Explore)!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

amit_hecht says:

Great "expression" and DOF
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

noahg. says:

Exceptional!

****

This image has been invited for submission at the Animal Kingdom group! The Animal Kingdom group allows for only the finest images of creatures to be submitted. By invite only; please read rules!

Animal Kingdom
--
Icon of the Week Contest 11 now open for submissions!
--
Got a nice serene photo? Serenity - Assignment 1

****

--
Seen on Flickr Blog. (?)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

nudge_the_cat says:

maybe "take a gander?
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

[ Alexander ] says:

Brilliant photo, added to favs!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

motocchio says:

it makes me laugh! great capture with amazing composition and good humor!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

ny156uk says:

Nice shot.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Dysanovic says:

Rather you than me taking this picture. Swans are nasty!

Great picture.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

nightmares_n_fairy_tales says:

Please add your
Beautiful photo to--

Beauty is in the *Eye* of the Beholder!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Grundlepuck says:

Both beautiful and playful!

Congratulations! This charming image is currently (or was recently) one of Flickr's Top 10 most interesting photos. (It is/was on page one of the calendar view.) Would you please add it to the Top 10 Interestingness pool? It would be a great addition!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas_McKane says:

Here's looking at ya.

Awesome!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

SendakSeuss says:

I think nudge_the_ cat's suggestion for caption is "spot on" as you say across the pond. "Take a Gander" God save the pun.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Jonathan Auman [deleted] says:

Love the shot.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

peggy. says:

this is great :) and the title is perfect!

--
Seen in Phenomenal Photos (NEW!! FAVE as many as you POST) (?)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

rakelilla/robin says:

very beautiful
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

gari.baldi says:

phantastic portait!!!

--
Seen on Flickr Blog. (?)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

niimo says:

excellent work!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

nhurtley says:

Great. Very spontanious.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

fauxtaux says:

A real hoot, or should that be a honk
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

larrygerbrandt says:

Can you say AFLAC?
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Miss Aniela says:

Great shot!! faved.
Seen in Top 10 Interestingness Pool
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Life in the Pumpkin Shell says:

Thanks so much for adding this! And I agree with the above who say you're brave. Did your lens get pecked right after this?
My husband had a run in with swans as a boy. He's more afraid of them than any other creature.

Phenomenal Photos FAVE
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

ellhoisa says:

Unusual and nice composition.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

simpologist says:

Life: the swans were really tame, they must get fed a lot by people coming to the water's edge. They weren't agressive at all, I'm happy to say :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

ennailuj says:

I love it! What a unique perspective!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Jellykat says:

I love your photo!

I like the fact that the swan is in sharp focus but the background is not.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

g-na says:

This is a wonderful photo!

As seen from Animal Kingdom: Enlightenment Through Photography
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

PoisonedIvy says:

:-) i love the swan's position in the photo
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

J. Star says:

Sixteen kinds of flippin' cool. Congrats on making the Flickr blog. :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

SendakSeuss says:

I wonder how tame they really are. I remember assuming the same thing about the swans in Stuttgart, Germany! There was a sign that said don't feed the swans, but the swans couldn't read. So they decided to come over and have a bite of my sandwich. As I got up to walk away one bit me on the backside. Nothing quite like being "goosed" by a swan.

I've got the shot up as wallpaper for now. I hope you don't mind.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

simpologist says:

I guess a swan doesn't doesn't understand the term your sandwich ;)

You have it as wallpaper too - cool! I don't mind at all.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

DigitalPunk says:

This is awesome...how did you manage to capture this amazing shot!?
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Dabbler says:

Fantastic in your face shot of these swans, great use of a castle for background!! I've never seen a swan with two color bill.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

DelScorchoSauce says:

That's just awesome.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

mliebenberg says:

found this on Explore ... Congratulations on a fantastic photo!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Absolut1 says:

Que bonita perspectiva...
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

kevsunblush says:

great
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

MyRidgebacks says:

You are my winner!
Please add this photo to
www.flickr.com/groups/mywinners/
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

kjmniemi says:

Fantastic pic! Funny and beautiful at the same time. An instant fave :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

NelMan says:

Found this in Explore -- this is sooooo cute! :) Great capture!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

_Neverletmego_ says:

haha, funny image :) faved.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

stefan turney says:

brave shot... certainly worth the risk :-)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Grundlepuck says:

Thank you for posting this wonderful #1 shot in the #1 Photos On Flickr's Interestingness List pool!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

ozlady says:

Awesome!

Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

Vivi Xavier says:

Great and funny!

Nice shot.
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

splines&lines says:

Cute!
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

KWentin says:

funny :)
Posted 40 months ago. ( permalink )

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Additional Information

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Taken in Maidstone, England (map)
Taken with a Canon EOS 350D Digital.
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Taken on September 17, 2006
Viewed 17,951 times
Replaced on September 19, 2006

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