Swans at the Castle
by kevip6

Comment by Teafran:
A very strong impressionist feel to this image - Thomas Dowling would have been proud to paint this. While it suffers from a soft focus and rather flat color tones, from an artistic standpoint, it is very effective being a rather placid scene conveying a sense of peace and tranquility. The use of the black and white swans in repose is also effective along with the rather Gothic structure in the background. Some photographers would have experimented with this during composition using gauze or light coating of Vaseline on the lens to create a more indefinite focus or intentionally defocused to offer up a dream like setting. Lots of possibilities here and if the author has access to post processing software like Photoshop CS4, it might be worth experimenting with some of the artistic filters. The author may also want to consider entering this into a print competition at a local camera club or even an open competition. The title suits the impressionist feel. A wonderful image that probably isn't to everyone's taste however it is one of this reviewer's favorites so far and an image that the reviewer wouldn't mind having a print of. Well done.

Swans at the Castle
by kevip6

Comment by elizadeb:
Very fairy-tale like! Beautiful!

Swans at the Castle
by kevip6

Comment by K3Master:
It was symbolic, though not to themselves. For themselves, it was just life, and love, as it was always meant to be. For themselves it was as natural as the tulip in the spring, as the bee on the tulip, as the honey from the bee.

For themselves, it was beauty and wonder and feeling, and their love shone like the noon day sun and brightened their hearts.

For themselves, they did not understand the symbolism of this specific moment, as they glided silently in front of a bastion of the old order. An order that would have, in a time not too distant, forbidden their love.

Yet here they were, free as a pair of birds, flaunting that freedom in the face of what used to be a death sentence, and showing the world that it had, indeed, moved on.

The Landing
by kevip6

Comment by andrewt:
Back to comment , great job with the focus, excellent technique.

The Landing
by kevip6

Comment by Melethia:
Great action shot, wonderful (to my eyes, anyway) composition with that foreground gray one watching you, or so it seems. I like this.

The Landing
by kevip6

Comment by Ammie:
Lovely capture.

The Landing
by kevip6

Comment by Teafran:
Not quite to the same level of expertise as some of the other avian images in this challenge, a difficult lighting situation leading to rather flat and dull coloring is the major issue. A good effort that might have been improved with a little more patience waiting for a different angle and lighting.

Buried Alive
by kevip6

Comment by justamistere:
This is scary! I find it scarier then any clown. I would've used gummy worms and crushed oreo cookies. Rotated 90-CCW looks good, too.

The Landing
by kevip6

Comment by HeiSch:
great timingand composition

The Landing
by kevip6

Comment by bennettjamie:
I love this one!