On one of the trails that took us right by the Chattahoochee River, we were delighted to see a pair of swans. We were surprised when one of them started swimming right to us. I don't know if his posture (slightly raised wings) suggested that he was trying to protect his mate or he was wanting food. Or maybe neither. I discovered that a tilt-shift lens is a difficult lens to try to take a picture of something moving around like this swan--it's just too manual, having to focus manually, set the exposure, etc. This is the only shot of the swans that I liked enough to post although I have issues with it. The aperture was around f/4.

Next month, I am thinking of going to the Outer Banks of North Carolina (US) for a long weekend getaway and photo shoot. I will likely concentrate on the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Hatteras National Seashore areas (between Manteo and Buxton). Does anyone have any specific recommendations on things that I must see with my camera there or a place to stay? I'm thinking of going for about 4 or 5 days.

'THE SWAN existing
Is like a song with an accompaniment
Imaginary.

Across the grassy lake,
Across the lake to the shadow of the willows,
It is accompanied by an image,
—as by Debussy’s
“Reflets dans l’eau”.

The swan that is
Reflects
Upon the solitary water—breast to breast
With the duplicity:
“The other one!”

And breast to breast it is confused.
O visionary wedding! O stateliness of the procession!
It is accompanied by the image of itself
Alone.

At night
The lake is a wide silence,
Without imagination.'
- Walter Conrad Arensberg, 'Voyage à l’Infini'

Posted on 21 April, 2006 (36)
EXIF: Canon EOS 20D : 1/1000s : f : : iso 200 : lens