Oct 31, 2014
(Image: Canon EOS 1DX, EF500mm f/4L IS II, 1/800 sec @ f/8, ISO 1600)
I spent yesterday photographing Red Deer in Royal Parks around London. John Devries of www.ophrysphotography.com joined me and we spent a busy day stalking stags. Late in the afternoon we came across two swans fighting in one of the ponds in Richmond Park. They were really going for it and thrashed about in the water for nearly fifteen minutes before one started to get the upper hand. Unfortunately, it managed to get on top of its opponent and held the other birds head under the water to drown it. John felt we should try to separate the two birds before the crowd of alarmed onlookers, many of them very young children, witnessed an unpleasant death. Fortunately, I had my tripod with me and was able to push the more aggressive swan away from its victim, which dragged itself out of the water and staggered off to safety to the relief of the crowd.
(Image: Canon EOS 1DX, EF500mm f/3L IS II, 1/1000 sec@ f/8, ISO 1600)
(Image: Canon EOS 1DX, EF500mm f/4L IS, 1/640 sec @ f/8, ISO 1600)