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  King of the Lake  

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Uploaded: 09/26/08 8:54 PM GMT
King of the Lake
Views: 759
Dlds: 96
Status: active

This swan patrolled the lake chasing the geese out of the water. Taken at Lake LaVerne in Ames, Iowa after our get-together. There have been a pair of swans named Lancelot and Elaine in this lake since the original pair were given in 1935. I used to go and see them when I was a child so it's a happy memory for me to return there.

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::sharonva
09/27/08 4:35 AM GMT
Hilda, you have a knack for picture titles! A swan seems to be an emotional bird, as birds go, and this one is proud and beautiful and strong and IN CONTROL! Monarch, indeed. When I first saw it, I thought you had used black and white, but now that I have it on full screen I see that you were photographing naturally and the bird simply dominated his surroundings.
Beautiful shot...thanks!
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"The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne, Thassay so hard, so sharp the conquering..." Chaucer
::tigger3
09/27/08 4:56 AM GMT
Beautiful and such a nice story! sandi♥
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Nature in all her glory is my uplift on life and so is my love of photography. sandi♥
::cctruckee
09/27/08 5:44 AM GMT
The lighting on this one is really incredible, I like the way the feathers almost glow, very interesting black and white effect too. Nice photo!
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~ cc de leo 'Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.'
::danika
09/27/08 8:22 AM GMT
A beautiful & graceful swan you captured here. Hilda ... I love how you did it in B & W with a hint of color. Very nicely done & thank you for sharing the story. To my faves it goes.
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Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the 'ah-ha'. Ernest Haas
.Shewolfe
09/27/08 11:28 AM GMT
Beautiful shot.
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"Everyone has a photographic memory...some just don't have film." ~~My DA Gallery~~
::100k_xle
09/27/08 12:24 AM GMT
Elegantly Done !

E J
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Ribbit ! Hop on over to my Pad.
.Roseman_Stan
09/27/08 12:46 AM GMT
Excellent work here Hilda. Truly top notch.
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“Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you” - Richard Brinsley Sheridan
.Jims
09/27/08 1:10 PM GMT
Love the B/W white and then the color on the beak nice photo to begin with and your post work was a great idea.
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JimS Gallery
.alexis518
09/27/08 2:30 PM GMT
Beautifully graceful photo, Hilda. The light on his feathers really shows them off. It's so nice to be able to go home again and have something still the same.
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Much of the beauty in life is found in people who care.
.jesusrocks13
09/27/08 4:24 PM GMT
great shot Hilda! I love it.. such a stunning capture! Great title as well!

-Emily
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MySpace? Facebook? I'm with Caedes. (My Gallery)
::Joanie
09/27/08 5:50 PM GMT
So beautiful Hilda! I love how you captured the swirls of the water around the swan!! A superb shot indeed!
Joanie
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Love and live.
::cynlee
09/27/08 6:46 PM GMT
Such grace. I'm thinking you desaturated the image and then put some color back. It worked out so well. I remember you speaking of this place from your childhood. It's really wonderful to be able to go back there.
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"Take it upon yourselves to be more forthright in your comments"* *Les (&purmusic)
::SEFA
09/27/08 10:06 PM GMT
So beautiful! I like that only the swan is in color. Very well done!
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SEFA
::solita17
09/28/08 4:10 AM GMT
Perfectly lovely, Hilda! Everything... composition, focus, exposure... just very beautiful.
mary
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"Never let your studies interfere with your education." - Pete Seeger
.billyoneshot
09/28/08 4:12 PM GMT
Swans are so graceful and elegant. Great color and framing.
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Billy
.gabriela2006
09/28/08 4:59 PM GMT
very elegant and lovely shot ....like the way you left some of the colors:)
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.Homtail
09/28/08 7:10 PM GMT
Stunning Hilda, i love the black and white with hints of colour. So imaginative.
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He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom i trust". Psalm 91: 1 and 2
.debblor
09/29/08 1:41 AM GMT
OOOOOOO! This is wonderful. What a beautiful "king" and such a perfect shot of him.
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Life is short. Enjoy!
::nigelmoore
09/29/08 8:00 AM GMT
That's a beautiful romantic shot Hilda, the lighting is just lovely. It lights up his wing feathers and makes them look very delicate.
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"A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." Dorothea Lange
.Catharina1
09/29/08 6:07 PM GMT
Like this one...beauty!
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.Genver
09/30/08 3:57 AM GMT
Very nice swan photo,good clarity and very good lighting too.
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::tee
09/30/08 7:31 AM GMT
I like what you've done with the color in this one. The single yellow flower is a nice touch -

tee
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So many pics and so little time can mean just one thing - it must be - tee time
::phasmid
09/30/08 3:07 PM GMT
When I think of swans, I think of them as perfectly portrayed as this one, my friend. I am late getting here, but I'm glad I came. Thanks for this beauty!

:)PJ
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We don’t make art to show someone what something looks like. All this requires is eyes (or a lens). Art is supposed to have meaning, emotion, power, or magic. Alan & Mario "FourThirds"
.gerryp
10/01/08 8:29 AM GMT
L have witnessed Swans chase geese away Hilda...quite fascinating to watch...This is a great capture here...gerry
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"The more we come in contact with animals, and observe their behaviour, the more we love them, for we see how great is their care for their young." - philosopher Immanuel Kant
.MarianaEwa
10/02/08 10:17 PM GMT
I love them both Hilda. But maybe this one a little little bit more. Both are gorgeous.
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::jdinvictoria
10/07/08 2:59 AM GMT
So elegant and beautiful. I love the light through his feathers. Beautiful capture...you've done him justice!
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.JEdMc91
10/09/08 10:37 PM GMT
She is a very beautiful swan and this is a great photo Hilda :-)
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Music's the medicine of the mind. ~John A. Logan Visit My Gallery.

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