Swans are beautiful and powerful creatures, but not always the easiest subject for the camera. All that white plays havoc with camera settings. The light was kind for these shots: not too bright, and few shadows. For once the water looks like water.
Before I come to last night's visit by Shutterbug, there are a couple more images from today. This large, and very contented, rabbit was unusually bold (it lives at the edge of a car park, which may explain its relative disdain for people).
And I like the calm of this shot of a sheep. As with the final swan shot I'd set the focus point to the left to bring in more of the setting.
Now for last night… It was late when I looked out and saw some yellow eyes glowing in the torchlight from the back of the garden. It was undoubtedly a fox, and it turned out to be Shutterbug. 
The vixen is still around (so the trail cam tells me), but she is as elusive as ever so far as any direct sightings are concerned. It's approaching the time of year for cubs (late March/early April births with the first above-ground sightings generally 3-4 weeks after that). No idea whether we'll be lucky this year. Sometimes we are, sometimes not. But I'll be watching. You can count on that!
Camera note: all daylight shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The fox was photographed with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens.
anonymous
1 Mar 2012Anonymous writes:
The closeup swan shot with the water "ring" falling from his bill is beautiful. The whites are nicely done.
Marilyn
gdare
1 Mar 2012Originally posted by Marilyn:
+1 Excellent shot :yes:
Words
1 Mar 2012Marilyn, I had several shots of water dripping from the swan, but that ring is certainly the bst of them.
Words
1 Mar 2012Darko, thanks!