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Thursday 5 May 2011

Early morning, Salts Mill


The Leeds-Liverpool Canal where it passes Salts Mill in Saltaire.   Such a peaceful scene early on a spring morning...  The two swans are the surviving cygnets from a brood of eight that were hatched in Saltaire last year.  They are almost fully grown now; just a few brown feathers and their pale beaks mark them out as being 'teenagers'.  I haven't spotted the adult pair, their parents, yet.  It would be nice to see another brood this year.

There is currently the most amazing exhibition of photographs of Saltaire's swans, in the little 'Shipley Focus'd' Photographic Gallery in Shipley's market square.  Taken by local photographer Andrew McCaren last year, they document a year in the life of this family of swans.  If you're in the area, I strongly recommend a visit.  The photos are simply stunning and give a fascinating glimpse into the secret life of the swans. I am all the more envious because I have never yet taken a photo of a swan that I'm satisfied with.  I think they're really difficult subjects - they won't 'pose' and it's difficult to get the exposure right on their white feathers.

13 comments:

  1. This picture deserves to grace a box of handmade chocolates or delectable handmade cookies :)

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  2. It almost took me back to when I first traveled through Saltaire - back in the 1960s on a canal boat. You could still find a decent cloud of smoke and soot belching out of the chimneys back in those days.

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  3. The processing makes it like the photo could have been taken years ago. Very interesting. I agree about swan photography. Just as you click the shutter button the swan will dive its head under water.

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  4. A peaceful, timeless scene.

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  5. A lovely and dreamy shot!

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  6. Lovely antiqued effect. Kim Klassen will be proud of you. I am trying to describe the effect this editing has on me. It certainly feels like one of aunty's old photos in the shoebox, but that would be sepia, yours has color. It is definitely appropriate for the subject. But on the whole I think I like your bright sunny photos with enhanced color better, with blue blue sky...

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  7. A very nice, moody, image Jenny.

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  8. I love this shot! Beautiful.

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  9. I love this! Very restful. Gray is one of my favorite colors!

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  10. You are getting quite sophisticated in your post-processing skills, Jenny! Wish I had more time to play, but these days I can barely find the time just to crop and post (not that I am complaining, and I do carry my camera wherever I go). I did just take a tour of your week's shots... nice, especially the bluebells. Too bad the clouds rolled in just in time for your vacation. April showers were late getting here, too, and after a brilliant spring month, the past few days have been wet and cold. Re your note on my blog, thanks for the appreciation and encouragement. My photos can always be enlarged by clicking on them. I don't know how to change the blog design to show the images larger without spoiling all past posts. Enjoy you time off!

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  11. I love what you have done with this photo; very atmospheric!

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  12. Oh Jenny the texture on this image is just gorgeous! ~Lili

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