14 Comments
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Leonard Neamtu's avatar

I love the contrast between the snow/ice and the brown reflected in the water!

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Tami Close's avatar

The other day, John Denver's song, Annie's Song, played on the radio. As I sang along, the lyrics....you fill up my senses like a night in the forest....found you on a similar frequency. I found myself connecting to your poetry lyrics and photographs. This is what you do for me, fill up my senses.

Now. I'm not a singer (tones, etc) but I love to sing. Maybe similar to what you may feel about your photography. All of us here get filled up by your taking action to photograph images in such a sensory-alive environment, which adds dimension to our lives and expands them.

And the swan, spreading his wings with his beautiful mirrored reflection....well, he serves as a profound symbol for me. Thank you, Whitney!

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Whitney Barkman's avatar

Thank you so much, Tami. ♡ Your words always buoy my spirits and I treasure your comments.

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Holly A Brown's avatar

For someone who proclaims not to be a photographer, you take very beautiful photographs! Swans are so majestic, so beautiful, aren't they? I really appreciated your comment about not outstaying your welcome: this planet is home to other creatures too, and we should respect their space and privacy (as stunning as they often are!).

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Whitney Barkman's avatar

Oh, thank you Holly! Very kind of you. I have not practiced the realm of wildlife photography much beyond our little forest squirrels, but it sure it fun to try. ♡♡

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

Beautiful Trumpeter Swan, and wonderful photos! Thank you for sharing these Whitney!

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Whitney Barkman's avatar

Thank you so much! ♡

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Pamela Leavey's avatar

We get mute swans in my area. I just love them.

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Brooke Shaffer's avatar

What a special gift.Thank you for sharing this Whitney.Beautiful pics 🌟

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Whitney Barkman's avatar

Thank you, Brooke! ♡

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The Sea in Me    (Síodhna)'s avatar

A single swan, the indulgence of staying with that. Lovely, slow, thoughtful photography.

Hear you on the tiring of winter. She decides how long. Listened to interesting reflections today from Katherine May on 'wintering' or seeking rest / retreat in difficult times. On looking it in the eye, not flinching away, learning to walk in its darkness, accepting this seasonal darkness as part of life, learning softness towards ourselves and others. That capacity for the wider range of emotions as normal, more than that, necessary.

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Whitney Barkman's avatar

Wintering, so essential, yet we so often feel we must continue to go-go-go, be inspired all year round. I am finally learning to let the ebb have it's time just as much as the flow now. Though sometimes, I do still mentally find it hard to not feel inspired. Thank you for sharing those thoughts. ♡♡

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Monique Barrow's avatar

That is quite a sight! I've never seen a solitary swan before. Thank you for sharing this!

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Whitney Barkman's avatar

So rare, I think, to catch them on their own like this rather than with a mate or a small group. I have wondered often about this guy, being on his own for months now. ♡

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