Photographing Mute Swans in the Mist at Sanquhar Loch
Late in the afternoon I noticed that a mist had come in from the coast, this is an infrequent event here in Forres on the Moray coast. Knowing the light would soon be gone I grabbed my camera, no time to ponder on which lens to use I kept the 55-200mm that was already on the camera.
Amazingly I remembered to put an extra battery in my pocket, an action I was to appreciate later in the day.
Sanquhar Loch a local beauty spot is only a few minutes walk from my house and seemed like the best area to hopefully get some interesting shots.
With poor light I often had to raise my ISO to 3200 to get a reasonably fast shutter speed. It’s remarkable how quickly a Swan paddles along when looking through a camera.
As opposed to the feature photo above I decided to crop the image from landscape to portrait, then added a touch of brightness and contrast, in my mind giving the photo a different perspective and richer look.
Cropped version of feature photograph: CAMERA: Fujifilm X-H1. LENS: XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. EXPOSURE: 1/250s. APERTURE: f/5.6. ISO: 3200. FOCAL LENGTH: 90.4mm
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Taking the Shot
The light at the moment is casting a soft dreamy look across the loch all I need to do now is picture in my mind what to photograph and how to compose. In the distance there is one of the swans who has spotted me and starts paddling towards the spot I am standing at, the local residents and frequent visitors regularly feed both swans so perhaps it thinks there’s a swan friendly Big Mac on the making.
It’s eager approach forces me to make a quick decision as to the shot I want to take, to my right are some overhanging branches with twigs sprouting upwards on the far left. My thoughts are to frame the swan between the twigs. With a beady eye focused on me this handsome bird is rapidly approaching.
Misty Sanquhar Loch photograph: CAMERA: Fujifilm X-H1. LENS: XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. EXPOSURE: 1/60s. APERTURE: f/3.9. ISO: 800. FOCAL LENGTH: 90.4mm
Shooting handheld it’s make my mind up time, lining my camera up and managing to get the ISO down to 800 I focus between the twigs, shuffling about to get position, the swan rapidly glides through the water towards me leaving a ‘V’ shape wake behind. I stop shuffling, hold my breath to steady my hands and I take the shot. The swan realises there’s no Big Mac on offer and quickly moves on.
On the Dark Side Photographing Mute Swans in the Mist
There is second swan on the far side of the loch, this area is much darker with less light hitting the water due to a high bank and a large amount of trees lining the bank of the loch.
I walk over looking for a good spot to position myself. This swan has no interest in free munchies and comes nowhere near me, in fact it decides to leave.
Before getting too distant I get a final look from the swan to check I am up to no mischief.
Last Look photograph: CAMERA: Fujifilm X-H1. LENS: XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. EXPOSURE: 1/60s. APERTURE: f/6.4. ISO: 800. FOCAL LENGTH: 110.3mm
Leaving in the Twighlight photograph: CAMERA: Fujifilm X-H1. LENS: XF55-200mm F3.5-4.8 R LM OIS. EXPOSURE: 1/60s. APERTURE: f/4.2. ISO: 800. FOCAL LENGTH: 110.3mm
Old Photos of
Photographing Mute Swans in the Mist
Cygnets in the Mist photograph: CAMERA: Nikon D3200. LENS: 18.55mm F3.5-5.6 EXPOSURE: 1/80s. APERTURE: f/4.5 ISO: 400. FOCAL LENGTH: 31.0mm
Mute Swans in the Mist photograph: CAMERA: Nikon D3200. LENS: 18.55mm F3.5-5.6 EXPOSURE: 1/80s. APERTURE: f/4.5 ISO: 400. FOCAL LENGTH: 31.0mm
Several years ago early one misty morning I visited the loch with the intention of photographing mute swans in the mist with a Nikon D3200 and a kit lens.
Black and White
If you would like to know more about Sanquhar Loch go to the Visit Forres website you may also wish to read more in-depth articles about photography that featured on my blog page.