This image was taken yesterday on a family visit to Hever Castle in Kent. The swan and ducks swam right in front of me and so I hurriedly snapped away before they moved out of the frame.
I like the perspective of this photo. While the swan and ducks dominate the foreground, I like the picture’s depth of field. I also think the reflections in the water and the grey sky add character to the image. For the photography geeks, here’s the detail. The focal length was 20mm, aperture was set at f4.5 and, being an overcast day, ISO was set at 1000. I initially thought this might make a good black and white image but instead I used the cross process filter as this worked much better. I also tinkered with the exposure ever so slightly while editing.
In case you aren’t aware, Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. The lake in the image isn’t natural. It was landscaped in the early twentieth century on the orders of the 1st Viscount Astor, a colourful character who bought the castle after turning his back on a life in American politics.
As ever, I am linking this image to OneDad3Girl’s #MySundayPhoto linky. I recommend going and taking a look to see what other bloggers have been up to.
22 thoughts on “My Sunday Photo 19/10/2014 – Swan at Hever Castle”
I love this photo! The perspective is fantastic, it seems to go on for miles, and the colour is very muted and wintry.
It all looks so beautiful. Looks very moody and the swan just looks so peaceful gliding about.
It looks a very big man made lake and certainly looks very natural there. Great positioning of the swan in your photo
Swans are beautiful…except for when you hit your golf ball near them and try to retrieve it…then they are scary. Lovely shot!
That’s very pretty, I like the line of the Swan cutting through the stillness of the lake.
#mysundayphoto
What a lovely peaceful picture 🙂 great 🙂
Lovely image. The day looks dull and grey, yet the swan still looks stunning and regal x
Really great photo, I haven’t been to Hever for years not since school.
Love the toning on this
Thank you for linking up
Such a beautiful scene….It looks so peaceful there.
Absolutely love this, it’s a great photo, and the filter you’ve chosen really makes it x
Like you, I like the depth of field and the reflections. The photo is all about peace and nature. It’s beautiful 🙂
Rebel xox
What a beautiful photo. I have never been to Hever Castle and I would love to get there one day.
Great shot ans love the tones! not been there in such a long time either! 😉
Love the composition and cross process effect. My UK born husband and I now live in Canada and we visted Hever years ago. Must go again. Please come and join my new Silent Sunday Linky Party over at http://nicerthannew.com and share the beauty of photographs.
Pretty picture and good ‘snapshot’ (!) of history too!
A lovely photo! My father has been a photographer for most of his life. He’ll appreciate you sharing some of the details of taking the photo. I’ll just sit back and enjoy the result.
Best Wishes
Gerhard
Great capture, I really like the effect of the cross process on this photo #mysundayphoto
I think this is my favourite photo so far today ;D
Great shot for all the reasons you mention and thanks for the photo details.
I’ve never visited Hever but it sounds like it might be another destination for my list!
Enjoy your week
Hi there, the lighting is great for your swan picture and adds majesty to the subject.
Hever Castle is a wonderful place for beautiful, natural photography with so many points of interest at every turn.
If you haven’t been then get down there – it’s great at all times of the year and the beautifully tended gardens and walkways visibly change with in all seasons – for me there’s spring with all it’s daffodils surrounding the castle and then there is summer in the beautiful Italian Gardens with it’s truly stunning Rose garden.
great photo. whenever i see a swan i think of that story where a little australian girl went overseas and upon seeing swans proceeded to talk to a European lady about the black swans we have in australia. This lady then told her off for lying! she said that there were no such thing as black swans. the cheek of her!:)
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