Black Swan Archives - Mihaela Limberea

Favorite Photos: March 2026

This is post 39 of 39 in the series “Favorite Photos”

This series contains my favorite photos processed in a particular month.

The image features a single Australian White Ibis standing in a grassy field. The bird is positioned slightly off-center to the right of the frame, facing left. Its plumage is predominantly white, with some black markings on its head, neck, and wingtips, which are visible as it stands.

Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) photographed at the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. It was raining, and while most people took cover in the nearby cafe, I stayed put and took a lot of photos.

A little rain has never stopped me. I use a shower cap over the camera body, and the lens is weather-sealed, up to a point, obviously. I draw the line at downpours. But a soft, persistent drizzle? That’s when things get interesting. There’s something compelling about animals and birds enduring what we humans instinctively flee from.

The image depicts a winter scene in a forest covered in thick snow. The trees are laden with snow, and delicate snowflakes are falling, creating a soft, ethereal atmosphere. The ground is completely covered in a blanket of white snow. In the lower center of the image, a wolf is lying down, partially submerged in the snow. The wolf has a coat of varying shades of brown, tan, and gray, with darker markings on its face and ears.

A lone wolf (Canis lupus) enduring heavy snowfall in Northern Sweden. I think I found myself a theme, ha, ha! Here’s the photo of the musk ox in the same snowstorm.

A dramatic, close-up portrait of a rooster is presented against a stark black background.

Speaking of themes: the portrait of this rooster (Gallus gallus domesticus) is part of a new animal portraits project I’m working on. Well, animals and birds.

The image captures the striking close-up of a black swan (Cygnus atratus) against a stark, dark background.

The black swan (Cygnus atratus) was the first in the series.

A small bird stands alone on a mossy rock in a deeply atmospheric, fog-shrouded forest rendered in cool blue-grey tones, evoking a sense of quiet mystery and solitude.

This is a new edit of an old photo taken sometime around 2018, when we were still living in Switzerland. These are the woods just behind our house, where I used to go for a daily walk with my camera. I still have hundreds of photos of those trees. Probably thousands, if I’m honest. I should probably do a project to do them justice.

I seldom edit old photos, but it happens the same way every time: I’m looking for something else entirely, I stumble over an old photo, and get an idea. And if I get an idea, there’s no ignoring it. I have to see it through.

A red squirrel is holding a red Easter egg in its paws, surrounded by other decorated Easter eggs on a grassy lawn.

Happy Easter!

📸 All photos were taken with Canon R5 Mark II & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM., except the dark woods, which was taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark III & Canon EF 50mm ƒ1.8 II.

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Favorite Photos: December 2025

This is post 36 of 39 in the series “Favorite Photos”

This series contains my favorite photos processed in a particular month.

The image captures the striking close-up of a black swan (Cygnus atratus) against a stark, dark background.The picture isolates a black swan against a solid black backdrop, bringing attention to its unique features. The swan's plumage is entirely black, with the texture of the feathers subtly visible. Its head and neck are gracefully curved, adding to its elegance. The beak is a vibrant red, with a small white tip, providing a sharp contrast to the black feathers. The swan's eye, also red, adds to the intensity of its gaze and stands out against the dark feathers. The lighting is focused, illuminating the swan's head and neck while leaving the background in deep shadow, emphasizing the contrast between light and darkness. The atmosphere of the picture is mysterious and dramatic, with a sense of solemnity conveyed by the swan's posture and the color palette.

A quick edit of a black swan photo taken on Kangaroo Island (South Australia) where we spent a few weeks this December, part of our recent Australia trip. More to come, once I’ve been through all photos 😅.

In the meantime, I leave you with some interesting facts about them.

Interesting Facts About Black Swans

Black swans (Cygnus atratus) are native to Australia and represent a fascinating species within the Anatidae family. Below are several interesting facts about them
Unlike most swans, which are white, black swans possess predominantly black feathers with white flight feathers visible only during flight. Their bright red bills feature a pale tip, and they have the longest neck relative to body size among swan species, aiding in foraging in deep water.
They are indigenous to Australia, particularly abundant in the southeast and southwest regions, including wetlands and lakes. Following European colonization, they were introduced to New Zealand, Europe, and North America as ornamental birds in parks and estates, where feral populations have established in some areas.
Black swans form lifelong monogamous pairs, often remaining together year-round. Both parents share incubation duties and chick-rearing, with cygnets riding on their parents’ backs for protection— a behavior that enhances survival in open water environments.
They produce a variety of trumpet-like calls, including bugling sounds for territorial defense or mating. These vocalizations are more musical than those of mute swans and play a key role in social interactions within flocks.
Primarily herbivorous, black swans feed on aquatic vegetation, algae, and submerged plants by upending in shallow waters (similar to dabbling ducks). They can tolerate brackish and saline environments, allowing them to inhabit a broader range of wetlands than many freshwater-dependent waterfowl.

Symbolism in Metaphor and Philosophy

The term “black swan” entered popular usage through Nassim Nicholas Taleb‘s book “The Black Swan” (2007), metaphorically describing rare, unpredictable events with profound impacts. Historically, Europeans assumed all swans were white until black swans were discovered in Australia in 1697 by Dutch explorer Willem de Vlamingh, challenging prevailing assumptions.

📸 The photo was taken with Canon R5 Mark II & Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM.

Mihaela Limberea

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Favorite Photos: March 2026

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Tag: Black Swan

Favorite Photos: March 2026

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Favorite Photos: December 2025

Interesting Facts About Black Swans

Symbolism in Metaphor and Philosophy

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