Mute Swan Photos From Lake Morton

Lakeland, Florida has the distinction of being a major breeder and caretaker of mute swans. In fact, they have become the symbol of the city and you can see large ceramic swans in front of many local businesses as you drive around the city.

Mute swan headquarters in the city is found at Lake Morton and it has been that way for many years. In most cases, mute swans are very territorial and don't allow more than one pair in their general area, but these swans are so well-fed they don't mind sharing the bounty with other swans. In fact, there are several breeding pairs at Lake Morton.

I like to photograph swans and have accumulated several images over the years. The swans at Lake Morton are pretty cooperative with photographers because they have a steady stream of people coming to the lake year-round to take their photo. However, if you get too close for comfort, don't be surprised to hear them hiss at you as a warning to be careful and keep your distance.

Because mute swans are so large, it can be hard to get the whole body in a shot and have any real detail show in the image. For this reason, I like to get in tight while they are on land and relaxing. When they are in the water, you can always get a nice shot when the light is low on the horizon and the lake water is still. This creates a beautiful reflection in the water that is very pleasing.

Another great pose for swans is when they are "busking" on water, which is a kind of threat display. The neck is curved back and the wings are half-raised. It's more or less a way to show off and project their authority, but it also makes a great photo.

Here are some of the shots I have taken lately of the mute swans at Lake Morton. Maybe they will give you some ideas of how you would like to photograph them too.

An example of mute swans in their busking pose

Another busking pose

A common pose when lake water is still

This is an example of getting in tight when on land

I generally recommend using a telephoto lens that is suited to wildlife like a 300mm - 500mm lens to be able to get as close as possible without alarming or irritating these beautiful birds.

---

See my latest nature and wildlife images at:
www.duanelipham.com
Cherokee Sun on Facebook