Great opportunity in my backyard (pics inside)

[blackmatch456]

Ok, in my backyard there is a very large lake. In this time of year, the water level is down. So there is a mini-beach that goes around the perimeter of the lake. I was about 10ft from the edge of my backyard, taking a couple pictures of the neighbors awesome statue, when, i hear a really loud noise, and really close to me. I turn around, and there is a massive swan! Scared me a little haha. And so here are the pics of the swan (i think).
And, I got my Canon XSI today, which i used for these. Had a D40 for 14days before my house was robbed.

Enjoy, and crits!
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e337/blackmatch456/IMG_0141-1.jpg


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e337/blackmatch456/IMG_0238-1.jpg


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e337/blackmatch456/IMG_0197.jpg


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e337/blackmatch456/IMG_0239.jpg


http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e337/blackmatch456/IMG_0253.jpg


For bigger/better res. pictures go to my Flickr!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackmatch456/

[FillingTheSilence]

I like #2, its a bit dark tho

[jsinon]

#2 for me as well. If the swan was a little further from the corner too, maybe. Overall, I would be happy to have taken it. Nice. One more thing, you were right to be a little scared. Swans, and geese, can be cranky and quite nasty at times.

[Robert_Lay]

#1 has a little too much useless space at the right. I would crop it a little tighter in the horizontal.

#2 is a good shot of the swan but seems to be rendered a bit too dark here.

[charl1e]

I like number 2, but i think it would be better if the swan was a bit higher up in the frame

[Marcia]

Composition on number 2 is good with the swan swimming into the lake. Try using curves or levels to lighten the image a bit.