First from me

[Ben H]

Ok - something straightforward from me to start off with - these are all some images I've taken with my old digicam (Fuji S5500) from my library, so this is pre DSLR and are really all shots from when I was at the beginning of my learning curve.

This little fella was casually looking for dinner in the evening sun, and despite being fabulous creatures, what attracted me to the scene was the lake was fairly calm, so the circular ripples originating from the swan were quite evident.

I took a range of more standard compositions, but they tended to look more like a snapshot of a swan. With the slightly tilted composition above, the shot seems more dynamic. The other things I like are the swan's reflection, and the water dripping from his beak.

Edited to add a little contrast and vignetting.

[tirediron]

Really nice capture, good job on a potentially difficult exposure. My two comments are (1) I think the image should be levelled, and (2) I'd suggest cloning out the little bits of softly focused grass/branches at image left.

[Ben H]

Really nice capture, good job on a potentially difficult exposure. My two comments are (1) I think the image should be levelled, and (2) I'd suggest cloning out the little bits of softly focused grass/branches at image left.

Thanks for the comments. I do think that the angle is perhaps a little overdone but I definitely did prefer it over the non-rotated shots. That's not to say my preference is well-judged though

And yeah, the branches do spoil the image...

[mindforge]

I think with this shot, I am ok with an angle from a specifically artistic point of view. I would like to see it straight to actually make a decision.

I have to agree on the branches... they are a blemish.

I think the vignette is too strong on this image, perhaps a little less black and just a more subtle darkening off to the edges.

The rest of the image is good in my opinion.

[Ben H]

I think with this shot, I am ok with an angle from a specifically artistic point of view. I would like to see it straight to actually make a decision.

Here are some examples of the raw straighter shots. These were the better of the range of images shot, but they are all poor imo - you don't get the impression of the circular ripples, and the pictures just aren't doing very much. I like the pose in the first of these pics - he looks like he's studying himself in the water, but overall I thought the pose was best in the angled photo as well.

I think the vignette is too strong on this image, perhaps a little less black and just a more subtle darkening off to the edges.

Thanks, good tip. I think I have a tendency to be a bit heavy-handed with vignetting in general...