Nick: I think if you had a shallower DOF (you have not listed an aperture setting) you would find the blurring naturally occurs away from the swan and that's all that's needed to make it pop. Your focus is sharp on each ripple . . . great for land and seascapes but not so much for the animal pics. :)
Ciao Nick. I can think about: more light may not be the best solution. You need to increase the contrast white swan/dark background then trying less light or better, if possible, the swan in the shadow and then yes, trying more light. More: the subject closer, bigger, and more on the left (reflections behind); blurring the background. Reflections may be nice also in fuzziness. Nick, my best swan pictures I took on the Thames in London in the twilight and in shadow: bird beautifully white against the dark water with nice dim reflections. Ciao.
Thank you very much, Giuseppe, and I think you are completely right. The poor swan just... disappears and can't make its show, as it should.
As about water and reflections, well.. yes I think water is one of my elements, the other being air. As a Greek I am at home more on water than I am on land. But in air I have to exercise a lot - so I am doing much sky photos in the last days.
Thank you very much, and one question, if I may. What would you do th enhance the presence od the swan on such a background? Perhaps longer longer exposition time / greater aperture to get its white color more shiny?
You are very skillful to capture reflections in the lakes (your natural element?). In this case, nevertheless, the beautiful swan is overwhelmed, drawned by too close, too many and stark contrasted reflections. Ciao.
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