Using a tele-converter lens, I use this intimate close-up of a preening swan as the first shot in a three-picture sequence. I pay as much attention to the negative space in this picture as the positive space – the indigo blue water of the pond framing the swan’s head and wings is as important as the swan itself. It gives contrast, context, and depth to the image, and allows me to stress the coloration and texture of the swan’s feathers without distraction. I use a balanced composition to emphasize the curving symmetry of the swan’s neck, head, and beak.