{"id":55182,"date":"2018-12-01T05:42:35","date_gmt":"2018-12-01T12:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=55182"},"modified":"2025-05-18T17:01:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T22:01:49","slug":"adult-tundra-swan-white-on-white","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/12\/01\/adult-tundra-swan-white-on-white\/","title":{"rendered":"Adult Tundra Swan – White On White"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"TundraTundra Swan in a near white out \u2013 Nikon D300, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 500, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This Tundra Swan photograph was taken in February of 2013 from the causeway to Antelope Island State Park<\/span><\/a> where a small flock of Canada Geese and several Tundra Swans feeding in some puddles that weren’t completely frozen over while some of the others swans and geese rested or stood around on the snow covered flats adjacent to the Great Salt Lake.<\/p>\n

There was a fog, falling snow, low light conditions and my subject was a white bird on a field of white. Just a tiny wisp of sunshine was getting through the clouds overhead which was barely enough to cause a shadow.<\/p>\n

Some of the Tundra Swan photos I took that day in near white out conditions were flat and unappealing to my eyes but some of them I really liked because of the white bird on white snow.<\/p>\n

I remember in art class in school my art teacher had the class sketch a white egg on a white table cloth and I recall that it wasn’t an easy assignment to do at all but it did teach me about using my pencil to apply subtle shading.<\/p>\n

The only bits of color in this Tundra Swan photo are the yellow spot near the swan’s eye and the slight tinge of rusty staining on the swan’s neck. I always think of swans as pure white but they don’t look quite as white when they are in a field of snow.<\/p>\n

Over the years since I took this photograph and images of the Canada Geese that were nearby that day I have wished to have the same kind of weather conditions with swans, geese, ducks and other birds because I liked the way the images turned out.<\/p>\n

Although we are now getting less snow in the valley than when I first moved here I keep hoping that I’ll have that chance again because it was fun and challenging.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Tundra Swan photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some of the Tundra Swan photos I took that day in near white out conditions were flat and unappealing to my eyes but some of them I really liked because of the white bird on white snow. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,1022,117,158,26],"tags":[4004,4431,6896,4175,3984,1123,4050,4328,953,4628,3122,2117,6897,6300],"class_list":["post-55182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-davis-county-utah","category-ducks","category-tundra-swans","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-cygnus-columbianus","tag-field-of-snow","tag-fog","tag-foggy","tag-high-key-2","tag-snow","tag-snowy","tag-standing","tag-swan","tag-swans","tag-tundra-swan","tag-white-on-white","tag-white-out"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-adult-white-out-mia-mcpherson-7293.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-em2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18460,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/01\/06\/white-on-white-a-tundra-swan-delight\/","url_meta":{"origin":55182,"position":0},"title":"White on White – Tundra Swan Delight","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I wasn't expecting much from the images but to my delight I liked the effect of the white Tundra Swans on the pure white snow.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Trio of Tundra Swans next to the causeway to Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-snowy-mia-mcpherson-7370.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-snowy-mia-mcpherson-7370.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-snowy-mia-mcpherson-7370.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-snowy-mia-mcpherson-7370.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7536,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/02\/16\/high-key-winter-geese-swans-and-a-black-billed-magpie\/","url_meta":{"origin":55182,"position":1},"title":"High Key Winter Geese, Swans And A Black-billed Magpie","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Some people might not find high key photos to their tastes but I find that I enjoy them because of their simplicity and how the high key background allows my eyes to focus clearly on my subject's form and beauty.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swan on a field of snow next to the causeway to Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-snow-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-snow-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-snow-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-snow-mia-mcpherson-7277.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":108439,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/03\/bright-winter-light-vs-a-winter-whiteout\/","url_meta":{"origin":55182,"position":2},"title":"Bright Winter Light VS A Winter Whiteout","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Earlier this year I photographed a Tundra Swan in bright winter light that today I am comparing to another swan image I took in winter whiteout conditions.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swan in a winter whiteout, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tundra-swan-in-a-whiteout-stroke-mia-mcpherson-7301.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tundra-swan-in-a-whiteout-stroke-mia-mcpherson-7301.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tundra-swan-in-a-whiteout-stroke-mia-mcpherson-7301.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tundra-swan-in-a-whiteout-stroke-mia-mcpherson-7301.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":140984,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/03\/01\/tundra-swan-portrait-bear-river-mbr-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":55182,"position":3},"title":"Tundra Swan Portrait – Bear River MBR, Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I'm sharing a simple Tundra Swan portrait taken almost two years ago on a bright winter day at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swan portrait, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":110686,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/03\/03\/big-beautiful-tundra-swans-of-bear-river-mbr\/","url_meta":{"origin":55182,"position":4},"title":"Big & Beautiful: Tundra Swans of Bear River MBR","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 3, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday morning I spent time with a flock of big, beautiful Tundra Swans at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I loved every moment that I had with the swans.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Seventy-six Tundra Swans and the Promontory Mountains, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tundra-swan-adults-and-immature-76-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0865.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tundra-swan-adults-and-immature-76-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0865.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tundra-swan-adults-and-immature-76-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0865.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/tundra-swan-adults-and-immature-76-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0865.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":136109,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/11\/01\/memories-of-tundra-swans\/","url_meta":{"origin":55182,"position":5},"title":"Memories Of Tundra Swans","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago, an old Facebook memory showed up where I shared that I had seen my first of season Tundra Swans and I realized I won't be seeing them this year.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swans standing on ice, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tundra-swans-utah-winter-ice-mia-mcpherson-0701.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tundra-swans-utah-winter-ice-mia-mcpherson-0701.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tundra-swans-utah-winter-ice-mia-mcpherson-0701.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/tundra-swans-utah-winter-ice-mia-mcpherson-0701.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55182\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}