Image of whooper swans flying in harmony wins bird photography award

This ethereal image shows whooper swans gliding over water in the city of Sanmenxia in Henan Province, China. It won Shu Qing a prize in the 2020 Bird Photographer of the Year competition

By Gege Li

Photographer
Shu Qing/Bird Photographer of the Year

A PAIR of flying whooper swans glide above the water in seamless harmony in the city of Sanmenxia in Henan province, China.

The image is titled Fairy Landing on Earth, and it won Shu Qing the bronze prize in the Birds in Flight category of the 2020 Bird Photographer of the Year competition.

Qing followed the swans – which get their name from their characteristic “whooping” call – with a handheld camera, and used a slow shutter speed to blur their movements. This approach adds an …