Black swans are meant to be rare

Yet here in Australia black swans are common.

A few years back I was at a meeting in New Mexico and heard an American speaker use the term ‘black swan event’ and from the context it sounded like he meant they were events that had a very low likelihood of ever happening. I didn’t quite understand so I asked the question what did he mean. He said black swans were regarded as a rarity, an unlikely event. When he heard my accent he realised my confusion.

Talking about black swan events is an error if there are Australians in the audience. It’s similar to when people from the Northern Hemisphere refer to seasons for meeting dates and when I ask for clarification there is the realisation that the seasons are reversed for the Southern Hemisphere. Within minutes they’re talking about their summer and fall 

These swans can be found on Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen in Canberra’s north. They are very friendly and let me get quite close. Close enough with a 55 mm prime lens to shoot these photographs.

SONY ILCE-7S with FE 55mm F1.8 ZA at 55mm and f/5, 1/1000sec, ISO 250

SONY ILCE-7S with FE 55mm F1.8 ZA at 55mm and f/5, 1/1000sec, ISO 160

SONY ILCE-7S with FE 55mm F1.8 ZA at 55mm and f/5, 1/1000sec, ISO 320

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