I was in the city just before dawn today and figured I would take my camera down to the river. There was just a light breeze and I shot about thirty frames and was walking away when my attention was caught by an unusual fluttering noise. I turned and through the darkness I saw a movement on the water. It was a swan - a typical Australian black swan with a red beak. I shot two photographs and kept walking.
But for some reason, I could not take my eyes off the swan. A few second later I realised it was going to swim through the reflection of two high-rise office buildings, so I got my camera out again and shot this solitary frame. I didn't have a tripod and I didn't even stop to brace myself to take the shot. I took this literally in mid-stride.
Now, twelve hours later, I'm sitting here in my study and reviewing the day's pictures. And that's when it hits me, the realisation of just what a rare image this is. I've lived in Melbourne for twenty years and the only place I've seen black swans is in the zoo. I've never seen them on the Yarra. Never.
FOOTNOTE: I should have worn my cygnet ring.