Test Flight

[PeterD]

I have been following the fortunes of two Swan families. One on the stream at Southmoor with six cygnets and the other at the lake at the Water Treatment plant on Southmoor Industrial Estate.
I have watched them grow up from tiny Cygnets in May to birds of thesame size as their parents today. I shall be updating my blog later.
This series of images is from the family at the Water Treatment plant lake.

There comes a time when swimming around with the parents is not enough. They have to learn to fly. Yesterday I watched the female take the four cygnets to one corner of the lake whilst the male travelled to a mid point, Then, the female and all the cygnets started a take off run, flew about 100yds and landed next to the male. This sequence of shots shows the flight of one of the cygnets.

Gathering speed for take off by treading on water





In flight



and landing



It was a real treat to watch.

Peter

[theMusicMan]

Re: Test Flight

Oh wow Peter, it must have been great to see and witness that, fabulous capturing there. I see from your blog that you also have a series of images covering the life of the Cygnets through to the current day, that was very intuitive to think of doing, I wish I had done something similar.

Can I ask something though please...? When I see some of the images on your blog, the processing of those looks markedly different to the processing used for many of your images on here! Do you process the images that you place on here in a different manner...? I am not 100% sure what it is, but the contrast and maybe perhaps the white balance on the ones posted here on e-group looks a little strange.

Any chance of sending me the raw?

[ndl0071]

Re: Test Flight

Hi Peter

A fasinating series indeed, I think No1 is my favourite, I just love the pose of the swan and together with the warm sunlight makes this a winner in my eyes.

Will the Cygnets fly to pastures new when they have gained their wings or will they be around a while yet?

Neil

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight

Oh wow Peter, it must have been great to see and witness that, fabulous capturing there. I see from your blog that you also have a series of images covering the life of the Cygnets through to the current day, that was very intuitive to think of doing, I wish I had done something similar.

Can I ask something though please...? When I see some of the images on your blog, the processing of those looks markedly different to the processing used for many of your images on here! Do you process the images that you place on here in a different manner...? I am not 100% sure what it is, but the contrast and maybe perhaps the white balance on the ones posted here on e-group looks a little strange.

Any chance of sending me the raw?

Thanks John. I shall update the blog later as I have lots more images since May bu to be honest, I am not so happy with this site as I have not been able to get reasonable sized images on it. Its probably something to do with how I use it but I shall have to read up more about it before posting new images there.

I would be happy to send you a RAW file. Where should I post it or will e-mail be OK? I am learning to use Photoplus XP and so may have made some mistakes there. I have not adjusted the white balance but have adjusted tone, etc.

Hi Peter

A fasinating series indeed, I think No1 is my favourite, I just love the pose of the swan and together with the warm sunlight makes this a winner in my eyes.

Will the Cygnets fly to pastures new when they have gained their wings or will they be around a while yet?

Neil

Thank you Neil, I shall be updating my blog (when I have learnt how to use it properly). I just had this feeling that it would be interesting to tell the tale of a family. Swans fitted the bill beautifully as they stay together for such a long time.

I do not think it will be very much longer that I shall have the opportunity to follow their adventures/fortunes. Shame really, you get quite close to them and Blade (my dog) does not disturb them.

Peter

[andym]

Re: Test Flight

Peter

These are very nice.

Any change of sharing the EXIF with us?

[theMusicMan]

Re: Test Flight

Peter - feel free to send ot my gmail account - [email protected]

ta

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight

John,

I tried to post one of the images but I am afraid its too large 8/9Mbytes. The upload timed out.

Peter

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight

Peter

These are very nice.

Any change of sharing the EXIF with us?

Andy,

Thanks for the comment. I have not forgotten your request and will provide the exif. Unfortunately I edited these in Photoplus X2 which stripped out the exif data for some reason. I have an query in with Serif and expect an answer from them. In the mean-time, I have searched for a way to post the exif from the original RAW shots. When I find the way to do it I shall post the data on here.

Cheers

Peter

[petrovich]

Re: Test Flight

Hello Peter.

Perhaps they will be there when I visit.....

Again great photos, I am also blogging, will discuss.

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight

Hello Peter.

Perhaps they will be there when I visit.....

Again great photos, I am also blogging, will discuss.

Peter, although you saw them yesterday they did not carry out a test flight but, they did again today.

Below is one frame from 10 I took at 5fps, C-AF. All but one was well focussed.



It was a great take off, well controlled and in synchronism. The landing however was something to be seen to be believed. Six swans all vying for limited space on the water because they insisted on trying to land together. Two had to make an aborted landing, turn round and finally land when the water space was clear.

I have now decided that I shall use C-AF, 5fps for all my action shots. Its proven to be reliable and better than S-AF for this type of shooting. All I need to do now is set up the standard S-AF in MyMode 1 and the standard C-AF in MyMode2. By the way IS1 was used throughout and therefore I shall keep this setting as standard.

I shall be using Blogs to get these multi frame sequences posted and link them from this site in future postings. Its the most economical way of dealing with this type of shoot.

Peter

[grumpy69]

Re: Test Flight

These are a really nice set of pics, right time and place

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight

These are a really nice set of pics, right time and place

Thank you. Its not normal for such extended practise flights but the lake is not very large and there is high ground to clear before they can get into Langstone harbour and safety. They will carry on this process until they are confident and then fly off.
I have grown kind of attached to them and they are my first port of call every day.

Peter

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight - Latest update 22 Sept

Went to the lake this morning and all the swans had gone.

The same goes for the family at Southmoor stream

I am glad I have had the opportunity to get to know them and hope they get through the winter OK. 6 Cygnets from one family and 5 Cygnets from another - not bad going.

Next year, the parents will be back to raise another brood each

Peter

[Naughty Nigel]

Re: Test Flight

ISTR hearing that once a young Swan leaves its nest for the winter it never associates with it's parents again. If true that always seems rather sad to me.

However, the parents usually stay together for life.

Magnificant images BTW. I like the first and last best. The water looks so clear!

[PeterD]

Re: Test Flight

ISTR hearing that once a young Swan leaves its nest for the winter it never associates with it's parents again. If true that always seems rather sad to me.

However, the parents usually stay together for life.

Magnificant images BTW. I like the first and last best. The water looks so clear!

Thank you for your reply and kind comments.

Your understanding is correct of both the young and the parents. Both these families I would describe as very successful. One managed to keep six Cygnets out of seven and the other kept all five.

What is wonderful is the duty of care these adults had for their young from May to mid September. In particular with the adults on the Water treatment plant. Carefully teaching them to take off, fly and land safely for a whole week before taking the family out of their confined Lake, presumably into Langstone Harbour and parting company. In our busy lives we never see this sort of care being given out in nature. I feel very privileged to have witnessed it.

Peter