Beautiful Birds

I’ve taken pleasure in the grace of the grace and elegance of swans since I was a boy. In this photo, the swan’s cloud-like feathers contrast with the dark green ripples of the pond. The bird’s reflection adds to its beauty, and the ripples seem to set it in a dream and hint of Monet (without the lilies).
I’ve been told this swan is one of two males that have paired for many seasons. I’d not previously this type of long-term relationship among swans.
I’ve lived in Ealing for many years but bizarrely only found Chiswick House and Gardens because I was searching for suitable photography locations in Chiswick. (Something else I learnt from this competition.)

The photos was shot on an iPhone 12. (I bricked my Nikon a few months ago.)

• Aperture: ƒ/2
• Camera: iPhone 12 Pro
• Taken: 29 July, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 6mm
• ISO: 50
• Shutter speed: 1/99s

Location: Chiswick House and Gardens - north end of lake

Date Taken: 2023-07-29

Camera: 02089985728

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

Well the cameras take the photo, flash and IR all that good stuff, but you have to set the stage.
 The actors never stand on the mark, never face the camera, and do the most embarrassing things
 BUT you do get serendipity.
Green finches are shy and easily disturbed , it takes extreme skill and patience to get a good photo via the usual methods, neither of which I possess.
Enjoy, and they do still exist on Arthur’s pond on Chertsey Road Allotments, so a result.

• Aperture: ƒ/2.8
• Taken: 7 April, 2023
• Copyright: Copyright 2002
• ISO: 100

Location: Chertsey Road Allotments

Date Taken: 2023-04-07

Camera: Bushnell Trail Camera

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

It was a very foggy day and I was fortunate to have the 210 mm lens handy when a flock of seaguls rose from the Strand-on-the-Green beach. They were flying around like something ftom a Alfred Hitchcock movie when a single bird flew straight in front of me and…click, click, click…

• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Camera: Canon EOS 2000D
• Taken: 7 February, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 169mm
• ISO: 100
• Shutter speed: 1/500s

Location: Strand on the Green

Date Taken: 2023-02-07

Camera: Canon EOS 2000D

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

A very foggy day and a wonderful opportunity to take the camera out. A flock of seaguls were by the rivers edge as the tide was going out looking for food.

• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Camera: Canon EOS 2000D
• Taken: 7 February, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 28mm
• ISO: 100
• Shutter speed: 1/125s

Location: Strand on the Green

Date Taken: 2023-02-07

Camera: Canon EOS 2000D

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

Spotted these delightful pigeons resting on a very foggy February day sitting on the handrails of a boat by Kew bridge. Presumably flying conditions were just too much for them! (Derek Barker)

• Aperture: ƒ/7.1
• Camera: Canon EOS 2000D
• Taken: 7 February, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 250mm
• ISO: 800
• Shutter speed: 1/400s

Location: Adjacent Kew bridge

Date Taken: 2023-02-07

Camera: Canon EOS 2000D

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

Seeing goslings sunning themselves in Chiswick House gardens is a beautiful sight

• Aperture: ƒ/9
• Camera: E-M1
• Taken: 4 June, 2023
• Exposure bias: -7/10EV
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 157mm
• ISO: 320
• Shutter speed: 1/320s

Location: Chiswick House Gardens

Date Taken: 2023-06-04

Camera: Olymus OM-D EM1

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

Walking around the gardens is a perfect way to spend the afternoon after a long week. Being able to walk amongst nature and take in the scenery and wildlife. I was reflecting on my week staring out at the pond and thought the reflection in the water of this duck was particularly beautiful. I just had to take a moment to appreciate it and take a photo to remind myself of how peaceful life can be when it all seems a little hectic! (Rachel Marshall)

• Aperture: ƒ/2.8
• Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max
• Taken: 15 April, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 9mm
• ISO: 25
• Shutter speed: 1/157s

Location: Chiswick House and Gardens

Date Taken: 2023-04-15

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

This stork was relaxing at the edge of Chiswick House lake and the reflections from the surface of the lake give the photo an almost watercolour effect that I love.

• Aperture: ƒ/10
• Camera: E-M1
• Taken: 4 June, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 51mm
• ISO: 2500
• Shutter speed: 1/125s

Location: Chiswick House Lake

Date Taken: 2023-06-04

Camera: Olymus OM-D EM1

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

There’s a stork that has made it’s home in Chiswick House gardens and on this particular sunny day the reflection from the lake gave it a lovely backdrop.

• Aperture: ƒ/10
• Camera: E-M1
• Taken: 4 June, 2023
• Flash fired: no
• Focal length: 122mm
• ISO: 2000
• Shutter speed: 1/250s

Location: Chiswick House Lake

Date Taken: 2023-06-04

Camera: Olymus OM-D EM1

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no

I was walking my son to school and this big fella was sitting along side the wall and I thought he was stunning. (Credit:  Michelle Dickson)

Location: Strand on the green

Date Taken: 2023-06-10

Camera: Samsung s22 ultra

Age Group: over_16

Professional Photographer? no