24 February 2012

Swan Song

Returning from my 5th appointment to the oral surgeon in less than a month, I chose to turn left instead of right at the crossroads. Sometimes it's the tiniest choices that make the biggest difference in my attitude.





Joining up with some much more talented photographers over at A Rural Journal's Sunday Best, Camera Critters, and World Bird Wednesday.
Posted by Cheryl at 2/24/2012 09:55:00 AM
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80 comments:

  1. smiles...glad you got to see a bit of that beauty...
    hugs...
    oral surgery does not sound fun at all...
    at least there is racing...
    but not a good first weekend...

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  2. Ugh. Oral surgery.

    I'm glad you found the swans. Even the photos make me feel peaceful.

    =)

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  3. Tiny choices...and a camera at hand! These are beautiful swan shots. They are such lovely creatures. Think of them next time you're sitting in the oral surgeon's chair!

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  4. So true. I need to remember to enjoy the divergent path sometimes. Beautiful!

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  5. isn't oral surgery just the best!!!  kidding!!!  
    it's amazing how the tiniest of choices can change the path of the day ...

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  6. Beautiful photos.  And, well, if there is a hell, mine will definintely included dentistry of some sort.

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  7. Gorgeous swan shots. I love that they're all completely different. Glad you took that left turn.
    K

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  8. Very beautiful Cheryl!  Except the oral surgeon part of course

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  9. Thanks for the hugs, Brian. I know they're sincere. Last lap mistake with the new package blew his chances all to hell. I'm trying to remember how many of these pile-ups he skillfully drove around then BOOM! Caused one himself. At least he was a strong contender all race long. Showing some early class.

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  10. Sooooo glad I found the swans. Oral surgery isn't new to me. Thankfully this is the first time I've experienced so much post-surgical pain. Wasn't ready for it and certainly wasn't prepared to have it continue for so long.

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  11. I', glad you made that turn!  A beautiful capture of the swan!

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  12. Thanks Lisa. I've resolved to carry the camera wherever I go. I see so much beauty. Sometimes I'm even driving slow enough to stop to capture it. (Yeah, I'm built for speed.)

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  13. Thanks Ann. It's easy to find the less traveled roads here; a bit more difficult in the city. I can't wait to see that city again. I'm hoping it's as charming as it ever was.

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  14. Gorgeous images Cheryl!  I really love that last photo!  I'm a big fan of silhouettes, and that photo is absolutely dreamy!  It's like it's out of a fairy tale.  Beautiful!
    Always a pleasure to visit your blog.
    Misty

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  15. I'm sure glad you took the left! Gorgeous! Happy Critter Day!

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  16. Wonderful captures, but I love the sparkles in the last shot - like a dazzling dream! =)

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  17. Boom & GaryFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:21 PM

    Great sequence, but the first is my choice as the swan is beautiful in its own right!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  18. They are such elegant birds! Love your shots.

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  19. Sallie (FullTime-Life)February 25, 2012 at 6:50 PM

    What a gorgeous critter he is!  Love the pictures.  Happy to find you for the first time!   I'll be back.

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  20. Thanks Boom and Gary. He only let me get close for a minute then drifted away. I intentionally shot into the sun on that last one. It's something I usually avoid but I really wanted to see what it would produce (since I couldn't actually see anything due to the glare off the water).

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  21. Thank you Tricia. First time I've tried to shoot directly into the sun. I like how it worked out.

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  22. I'm more than glad I took the left. I don't see swans up close often. Made my whole day.

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  24. Thanks Terra. Yeah, this has dragged on far too long. I'm over it!

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  25. Thanks Kay. So many choices to find my way home. This was the best of all routes.

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  26. Thanks Mel. I think hell is dentistry. Thankfully, the surgeon I see is an angel.

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  27. Oral surgery would be ever so much worse if it weren't for the angel that is the surgeon. Cold, bright, and very windy day so I only stayed out until my fingers grew numb (which was all of 5 minutes!).

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  28. Thanks Misty. I shot into the sun just to see what I'd capture. The only thing I did to the photo was soften it to try to get it to be less rough on my eyes.

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  29. Thank you. I don't see them often so this was a real treat.

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  30. Nice to see you too. He was elegant and I couldn't be happier that I actually saw him.

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  31. Aren't they beautiful!  I saw sandhill cranes today on my way to a concert.  No camera, no place to stop...but the very first sign of spring I've seen here.  Made my heart lift.

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  32. I tried to photograph swans last summer, but I couldn't get a good shot. You did a great job. I need to try shooting into the sun--love the way it turned out.

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  33. Amazing...the most gracefully designed waterfowl!  

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  34. fabulous effects!  i like all of them very much!

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  35. What a beautiful creature!!  Gorgeous photos!!

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  36. beautiful series of photos, I looked thru some of your other posts and I love your work.

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  38. Elegant and beautiful bird. Lovely shot indeed :)

    Hope everything's going well with the oral surgery...

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  39. I don't know how many times I've told my husband after an unexpected turn in the road - "I'm glad we came this way."
    Love the first shot!
    The reflection of the sky( I think)  in the water is quite unexpected but lovely.
    Swans always serve to remind me of my faith in fairytales. :)

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  40. Beautiful swan pictures.  I must have missed something about the oral surgeon.  Hope it's nothing too serious.

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  41. what a wonderful serie! love the reflections :) 

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  42. You are absolutely right... sometimes beauty is a matter of direction. Where we choose to go, what we choose to see...
    And gosh! what you sow and captured!

    Thank you for visiting myParaphernalia and commenting. It was very kind of you.
    I am following your blog, to enjoy more of your photographs, and written words, and I hope you like my blog enough to join too : )

    Greetings from Norway

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  43. Nancy @ A Rural JournalFebruary 26, 2012 at 7:45 AM

    Your talent is apparent, Cheryl. These shots are gorgeous. 

    Hope you are recuperating from your appointment. :(

     Thank you so much for sharing at Your Sunday Best.

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  44. Hi Cheryl,

    Your swan photos are gorgeous! I love the sparking water in the last photo!

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  45. Cheryl, these are beautiful images of such a magnificent creature.
    Happy Sunday to you!

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  46. All three of these photos are great,
    but the third one with the almost silhouette of the swan, the simplification of the highlights,...
    well, that one is great!
    (Hope all the appointments with the oral surgeon go well.)

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  47. Nice variation of exposures there Cheryl. Keep up the brushing.

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  48. Beautiful shots. I like the last one best where it looks like everything is covered in glitter :-)

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  49. That would certainly improve my mood too.  Great shots, and I hope you don't have to see the oral surgeon again. :-)

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  50. The neck of the swan is so long.

    It stretches to full height of my computer screen.

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  51. A happy left turn for us so that we can see these beautiful photos of a very beautiful swan.  So majestic!

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  52. How beautiful! Swans are so graceful. I especially love the top shot. The water looks so clean and the feathers on his neck are really well defined. Is this on a lake?

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  53. That last shot is just ♥ Truly wonderful!

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  54. Thanks H. A pair of swans were in a very large tidal basin across the street from the ocean. While the other kept its distance, this one came close to shore then fairly quickly turned and drifted away.

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  55. This is the first time I've intentionally shot into the sun just to see what affect I'd achieve. I had to soften it a bit because the glare was crazy harsh on my eyes.

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  56. Thanks Phil. I only messed with the 2nd shot & I can't even remember why. Experimenting I guess. I do love the old dageurreotypes.

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  57. Thanks Deb. Hoping that was the last visit. I've had quite enough of dentistry. GAH!

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  58. Thanks Zephyr. Shot into the sun. The glare off the water was so brilliant I couldn't see much through the viewfinder so it was really fun to see what I snapped.

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  59. Nah, you didn't miss anything, Viki. I haven't written anything about much lately. Just pictures. They're far more life-affirming than any words I have to share.

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  60. Thank you for your kind word Demiek. I absolutely loved your 'mother and child' portrait. Just stunning.

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  61. Thanks Nancy. I know I really ought to be practicing using Pixlr or install my copy of PS Elements but I've gotten so comfortable using Picnik for the quick edits I'm finding it hard to break open anything new.

    The appointment was my 4th follow-up to the original appointment. Fingers crossed it's the last.

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  62. Thanks Lisa. Seeing this guy and his shyer buddy made my day.

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  63. I love that last photo! Stunning! 

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  64. Sometimes wrong turns end up being right!  Lovely shots!

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  66. Oh, it was intentional. Just wasn't expecting to see anything quite so special.

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  67. Love your swan shots, Cheryl!

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  68. Wrong turns can be very productive sometimes,
    I do like that last shot.

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  69. How wonderful for you. Serendipity is a wonderful things!
    I love the morning glory!

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  70. Wrong turn on the way to the oral surgeon? I support your decision! Nice treatments of your lovely swans!

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  71. Wonderful imagery!

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  72. Beautiful photos of swans. I can't decide which I like the most!

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  73. these are all lovely, but especially love the mystical last one with all the "light crystals " around the swan

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  74. oh, just delightful.  Love visiting from my side of the world.  Your swans white; mine are black .... :)

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  75. Robert NicolaescuMarch 3, 2012 at 3:30 AM

    Elegance and beauty! Best wishes!

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  77. Hi Cheryl, 

    Great swan pictures!!! It's so great when taking a different route than you usual you discover something interesting! 

    I'm visiting from Saturday Sareenity. 

    Best wishes from Barcelona.

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  78. geanina boureanuMarch 4, 2012 at 3:55 PM

    beautiful captures :)

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  79. Wow - these shots are magical.

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  80. Thanks Ann. It's easy to find the less traveled roads here; a bit more difficult in the city. I can't wait to see that city again. I'm hoping it's as charming as it ever was.

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