Symphony in Flight

A family of whooper swans took flight together over Kushiro, their white feathers contrasting beautifully against the darker background. Although most of the swans were flying in the same direction, each had unique variations in wing position, exact flight path, and speed, adding individuality to their coordinated movement. Capturing this rare moment of 11 swans in such synchronized yet distinct motion was a remarkable experience, showcasing both their unity as a group and the subtle differences in each bird’s rhythm. The scene felt like a delicate dance in the sky, a fleeting moment of harmony in nature. I used a slow shutter speed (1/10 sec) to capture the motion and emotion of the swans while minimizing distractions from the busy background. I discovered that 3S (Slow Shutter Speed) shooting is an incredibly effective technique for giving my photos a painterly quality—not only because of its artistic appearance, but also because each image tells its own story. I believe this effect occurs because the camera's image sensor accumulates photons for 100 to 300 times longer compared to typical high-shutter-speed photography.