Holy moly, this is a great shot, and the perfect title is icing on the cake. Just the right combination of motion blur, sharpness where it counts (on the RH head of the LH goose) and really thrilling swirling composition elements that all lead our eye to home in to the center of the shot. The thumb unfortunately doesn't give a clue to what awaits on the click-up. Kudos, Rex.

Rex, What a superb swan shot, such a change from sedate loveliness that one all too often sees with this subject matter, so kudos to you for presenting something different, a diferent take on the little beauties. I like explorations of the darker side and this one fits the bill (no pun intended! :-)) nicely. Great fight/action capture. Also love the backlighting on the wing.

Uiiiiiiih, what a fight :))). Fantastic light, fantastic moment, and just the right shutter speed to freeze those drops and add to the general swirl. And then the title :)) great to see this one from you! :Doro

Just a the right moment with this light... Great shot!

The first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw this photo was a big “WOW”. After staring at it for a few minutes I still say “wow” ….. this is a HoF material, congratulations Rex!

-Vaggelis

Must agree with Vaggelis. Impressive moment from real life and very well captured. I would like to see this everyday in medium-size print in my office!

Golly! This is so good Rex. What a great moment you managed to get, even at ISO 100.

This is way more memorable than the usual swan photo!

It must have been pretty violent - and you can't have been that far away at 32mm, either.

Great shot - for all the reasons already aired.

Great capture

Simpy the best action bird shot I have ever seen

Not quite best friends ! ;-))A lot of actions here: the water spray, the open bills, the spread wings , all lead to a non peaceful encounter;-))

Rex, just a super nature action shot. This is my first 10 rating since I decided to participate in the new HoF nominating procedure.

Came back for another look and liked it so much I upped it to a 10. There's nothing like a good fight between friends :-)

Phew, you have really the caught the aggression here. The backlighting absolutely makes it for me, causing that shower of light to be kicked up all round them and their frenzy.

This is one of those reactive shots, unlike say a landscape where you have a bit time to contemplate the scene and the composition etc. Here, you just have to shoot and wait and see how it came out. I bet it was quite a moment when you downloaded this and saw the results...a very fine picture.

Best wishes- Andy

for your encouraging comments. I am a bit overawed by the enthusiasm with which this image has been received.

Nora and I went for an early morning walk and this fight took place next to me, probably due to Nora feeding the ducks.

I think I am starting to become a photographer as I have self-deprecating stories where I have stood and gawped at some worthy event with the camera still round my neck, this time I started to shoot. I took 7 frames in 7 seconds and then it was all over.

On getting home I viewed the images as a slide show and this one stood out. The highlights were contained but the image was dark and the separation between the swans was poor. I slightly adjusted levels, a minor crop and the image came alive.

For me it was the intertwining of the heads, the composition brought about by the wings and the fact that they still look graceful in the middle of a fight that made it special for me.

Chuffed!

Thanks.

As fresh as on the first day. See my comment at To the Victor - here goes HoF nomination for BoF picture :) yours :Doro

Superb shot the back lighting adds to the drama of this image.

The reward for having camera at the ready.

all is allready said...

for HOF, Rex, well deserved (was my tip for BOOK)! Apologize for not commenting and rating earlier, must have been away. But you get it, anyway!

Kind regards,

I bet you're well chuffed now and deservedly so!

never got around to it either, but this was also a suggestion from me for the book. it strikes me a surreal organic abstract and with wonderful lighting. kudos on the capture, not an easy feat i imagine. and congrats on the HOF...very well deserved.

best, john